An Inuit print sale exhibition in France, May 31th- June 15ft 2008
An important Inuit print sale exhibition will take place in France in the Parisian area in Souppes sur Loing, from May 31th to June 15ft 2008. This untitled event « The Polar meetings – in the Inuit land » gathers about 85 prints created by 41 artists from Nunavut, Nunavik and Northwest Territories in Canadian Arctic.
In order to share the Inuit point of view from several Arctic communities, numerous famous artists will take part in the show like Kenojuak Ashevak, Kananginak Pootoogook and Meelia Kelly from Kinngait; Andrew Qappik, Jolly Atagoojuk and Abigail Uutuuva from Panniqtuuq; Johnny Amituk, Josie Sivuaraapik and Josie Papialuk from Puvirnituq ; Angès Nanogak and Mary Okheena from Ulukhaqtuuq (Holman).
This major event, a first in Europe, is in line with the International Polar Year and will involve other fields such as scientific research, conferences, music, cinema, photography and educational activities. Its aim consists in promoting and documenting contemporary Inuit art as well as Inuit culture. These domains are not really known in France or in Europe although lots of people are interested in non Western art (see for examples in Paris the Musée du Quai Branly opened in 2006, the National Museum of Asian Art also called the Musée Guimet or the Musée Dapper Foundation dedicated to African art).
This project is undertaken by a non profit association Art Puissance 7 Events focused on the contemporary print creation and the promotion of artworks and artists in France. In order to organize this Inuit print sale exhibition, Art Puissance 7 events joined Inuksuk Espace Culturel Inuit in Paris another non profit association which was created in 1995 and managed since 1999 by a group of students from the Inalco in Paris (the only university in the world where you can learn Inuktitut, the Inuit language). The Inuksuk’s members aim to bring Inuit culture to French and European audiences through exhibitions, scientific as public conferences and scholar activities.
Several Canadian and French partnerships have been engaged in order to realize the project like the Dorset Fine Art of Toronto, the Avataq Cultural Institute, the Fédération des Coopératives du Nouveau-Québec, the Iglou Art Esquimau (French art gallery in Douai). This project also benefits by collaborations engaged with the Arctic print shop: the Uqqurmiut Centre for Art and Crafts in Panniqtuuq and the Dorset Fine Art in Kinngait.
We wish the event success; all the more the benefits of the print sale will be redistributed to the print shops and their artists in Inuit territories.
More details :
www.art7events.org
www.espace.inuit.free.fr
