Jomoud's Fotothing

INUIT (Eskimo) CARVING

“Mother and Child” by Martha Tickiq.

Carved in dark serpentine stone.

This piece is on display in the boardroom of my office. It is estimated that Martha Tickiq carved this sometime in 1946. We acquired it approximately 15 years ago.

The artist is an Inuit, living in Canada’s Arctic, in a territory known as Nunavik.

Some four hundred years ago, contacts between the Inuit people and newcomers increased as more and more Europeans ventured to the far North. The Inuit exchanged furs and artifacts for tools, firearms and other commodities offered by the visitors. The practice of carving figurines for mercantile purposes was born.

In 1948, the Canadian Guild of crafts organized a first showing of Eskimo sculptures in Montreal. The event received an enthusiastic response from the public and carvings made by heretofore-unknown Nunavik artists all sold within a few hours. Today, the Inuit from Nunavik market their art throughout the world.

The early works were small and essentially narrative: illustrations of family life, often based upon the intimacy of living in the close quarters of igloos and tents; depictions of hunting on the land that reflected their deep respect and understanding for the animal world, recognizing them as companions, foes and equals; representations that offered insights into their spiritual beliefs, a complex and often dark world with fantastic beings. Above all, the fact that Inuit live in a harsh environment that they make easier with a well-developed sense of humor is immediately apparent in their work. Even today, it is rare to see an Inuit piece that does not have humor as a component. These features, as well as the honesty and directness of Inuit art, surprised and delighted a growing and enthusiastic audience that was curious about the North.