Kenojuak Ashevak

Kenojuak Ashevak (CC; born October 3, 1927 at the Inuit camp Ikirasaq; † January 8, 2013 in Cape Dorset) was one of the most important Inuit artists in Canada; their sought after by collectors works occupy a prominent place in well-known museums of the world. Designs from her hand decorated with Canadian stamps and coins.

Life

The artist Kenojuak Ashevak ( Inuktitutversion: Qinnayuaq Asivaq ) was born in the ( long since discontinued ) Inuit camp Ikirasaq on the southwest coast of Baffin Iceland in 1927, in an igloo. The course of her life reflected in many details against the upheavals and changes that have since taken place in the Arctic north of Canada.

Her family had 1928 on the Mansel Island ( in the Hudson Bay west of Ivujivik located ) to move because on Baffin Iceland failed to hunting deer. Two years later, her father was of roommates of the camp, where the family was staying, was murdered. Back to Baffin Iceland grew Kenojuak at camp on their grandmother, was married at the age of 19 and brought three children into the world. In 1952 he was diagnosed with the 25- year-old young mother Tuberculosis - a disease which at that time was rife among the Inuit, they are in breach of non- Inuit (of qallunaat, " with the thick eyebrows " ) had developed entrained disease no immune defense. After three years of residence in a sanatorium in Quebec City, she returned to them of the native camp, where in the meantime all her children had died from infections or food poisoning. Only her husband Johnniebo had survived.

The two built a new family: 1956 Arnaguq was, by now a well-known artist, born adopted ( an Inuit quite common operation ) and 1959 of the now well-known as a stone sculptor son Adamie. Other of her children died as an infant, and so are now living apart from the abovementioned sons, five of their children, two of whom were adopted and one given away for adoption. The first half of her life Kenojuak therefore, apart from the stay in the sanatorium in Quebec City from, or in a traditional way in camps along the coasts of Hudson Strait.

In 1951, the Canadian artist James Houston as a government representative was in the nascent at that time Inuit settlement Cape Dorset come ( in Inuktitut Kinngait, " high mountain") on the island of the same name, to the resident Inuit during arts and craft work as for her new form of value creation to help. After returning home in 1955, therefore Kenojuak began - under the guidance of James Houston's wife Alma - to engage in arts and crafts. Even in the camp of their grandmother had her editing of animal fur and skins much joy prepares, and now she saw herself in a position to contribute with just these skills to support the family while her husband went hunting continues.

When James Houston in 1957 in Cape Dorset, the first graphic designs of the Inuit began to implement in printmaking, also Kenojuaks draft application to a skin bag "Rabbit Eating Seaweed " was printed; it was the first art graphics for a Kenojuak motif.

In 1959 Kenojuak also tried drawing on paper. You and the Born in 1904, Pitseolak Ashoona were the first Inuit women - began to draw - with increasing success.

Kenojuak spent the first years of their time artist still in traditional camps and drew their print designs in the tent. Not least, the compulsory education of their children and they Johnniebo led eventually to draw 1966 period in the settlement of Cape Dorset. Died in 1972 Johnniebo.

She died on January 8, 2013 at the age of 85 years from the effects of lung cancer.

Recognition and honors

The artistic achievements Kenojuaks first found in North America, but soon also high global recognition. The artist increasingly received public contracts and was able to experience many honors. Below, the most significant events are listed in chronological order:

Information about the artistic work

The number of etchings, lithographs and stone cuts prepared by her drawings can be the basis of the official publications of the West Baffin Eskimo Co - operative Ltd.. Kenojuak is represented by over 300 graphics in the highly sought-after annual collections of the cooperative since 1959, determine ( a device for distribution of artistic works from Cape Dorset) as follows. Because their work is sought after by museums and find broad interest and collectors, the usual editions of 50 copies are generally sold out quickly, and then to acquire correspondingly expensive only at auctions. While the limits set by the Co -op in the annual catalogs prices for Kenojuak graphics lately lie at 600-1200 Canadian dollars, was as stamps template became famous stone carving " The Enchanted Owl" ( The Enchanted Owl; see illustration) 1960 (red- black version, edition: 25) at that time still provided with a fixed price of 75 Canadian dollars. But after twenty years 10-15000 dollars were offered at art auctions. The highest ever price achieved the lithotomy in November 2001: In Toronto, the auction end time was in the famous auction house Waddington's at a bid of 51,000 Canadian dollars (which are around 36,000 euros plus auction fees ) license.

But not only drawings and graphics made ​​Kenojuak famous. Their relatively rare Serpentinskulpturen are also sought by connoisseurs. The activity of the artist in the field " flat glass design " is mentioned above.

Well-known artists from the family

• Johnniebo Ashevak (1923-1972), husband of Kenojuak Ashevak
• Arnaguq Ashevak (1956-2009), adopted son of Kenojuak Ashevak
• Adamie Ashevak ( b. 1959 ), son of Kenojuak Ashevak
• Adamie Alariaq (1928-1990), brother of Kenojuak Ashevak