Joe Talirunili (Inuit, 1893-1976). "Hunter in Kayak." Soapstone sculpture, ca. 1960/70s. Signed "Joe" on the base with numbers. A soapstone sculpture of a hunter in his kayak, carved from a single piece of stone. Attached is a wooden paddle and spear with cotton threads and black leather cords. Born in either 1893, 1899, or 1906, Joe Talirunili was known for his depictions of the harshness of the northern climate and the survivalist lifestyle of a people dependent on an arctic landscape, often roughly executed, as though emphasizing the artist's urgency and conviction for documenting his thoughts. The rugged aesthetic Talirunili favored for his sculptures set them apart from the majority of those being produced from Puvirnituq at the time, which were increasingly being recognized for their "idealized, dreamlike quality," smooth surfaces and fine details. Size: 11.5" L x 3" W x 5.25" H (29.2 cm x 7.6 cm x 13.3 cm)

Joe Talirunili's work has been included in over 30 exhibitions and was featured on a 14-cent Canadian stamp in 1976. Both sculptures portray one of his childhood experiences, when families set sail in an umiak (large sealskin boat) to travel to better hunting grounds. This scene was repeatedly depicted in Joe's carvings, drawings and prints.

Provenance: private Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA collection

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#178792

Stable fissure around torso of figure where he connects to the boat. Fraying to cotton threads and chips to wood paddle. Some abrasions and nicks to stone. Signed "Joe" on base with remains of sticker label adhesive on surface of signature.