EEGYVUDLUK POOTOOGOOK (1931-1999) KINNGAIT (CAPE DORSET)
Animal Spirit, c. 1964
stone, 9 x 14.5 x 4.25 in (22.9 x 36.8 x 10.8 cm)
unsigned.

Provenance
Feheley Fine Arts, Toronto;
Private Collection, Toronto;
Estate of the above.

Exhibitions
Toronto, Feheley Fine Arts, Cross-Currents: Cape Dorset in the 1960s, June 2001, cat. 13.

Publications
Feheley Fine Arts, Cross-Currents: Cape Dorset in the 1960s, (Toronto: Feheley Fine Arts, 2001), cat. 13.

The first half of the 1960s was arguably one of the most fertile periods in Cape Dorset artmaking. Of particular interest and importance is the large number of “spirit sculptures” produced by artists such as Kiugak Ashoona, Osuitok Ipeelie, Mikkigak Kingwatsiak, Saggiak, and Joe Jaw to name just a few. These sculptures range from depictions of spirits from Inuit folklore to objects of pure fantasy and constitute an exceptionally powerful group of works.

Eegyvudluk Pootoogook was not a prolific sculptor, focusing his energies instead on his work as a stonecutter in the Cape Dorset printmaking studio. In his decades long stint at the print shop, Eegyvudluk participated in the production of many of the most important stonecuts produced in the community including Kenojuak Ashevak’s iconic Enchanted Owl (see Lot 30).

Eegyvudluk was, however, a supremely talented sculptor, as is evident in this enigmatic and fascinating Animal Spirit which seemingly incorporates elements from animals of air, land, and sea. The bear-like head sports walrus tusks and marine mammal ears. The body also seems quite bear-like apart from its canid tail and single rear foot with either stylized talons or perhaps humanoid fingers. Whether this spirit animal represents a particular legendary creature or is simply a product of Eegyvudluk’s fertile imagination is up for debate, but the fact that it is charming beyond compare is entirely without dispute!

References: One of our very favourite spirit sculptures from early 1960s Cape Dorset is Eegyvudluk’s Dog Spirit in the collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; see Ingo Hessel, Inuit Art: An Introduction, (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre / New York: Harry Abrams / London: British Museum Press, 1998), fig. 149, p. 189 and elsewhere. See also George Swinton, Sculpture of the Inuit, (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972/92), fig. 488 (originally attributed to Osuitok) and fig. 881 (1992 edition only).