Johnny Inukpuk, A life of Abundance

Johnny Inukpuk (1911-2007)

Johnny Inukpuk is born in the Canadian Arctic in an era that is for us thousands of years away. He traveled on the land in a constant quest for food to feed him, his family and his dog team. The only contact with the Europeans were at the trading post where furs were exchanged for riffles and tea. The obligation to settle in the newly formed village was established in the early fifties by the Canadian government and changed Inuit traditions forever. Johnny in his new sedentary life met a men that changed his universe and like he says :'' Saumik (James Houston) was the one that started people to carve, so I did. Carving gave us an independence that we never had before''.

For Johnny Inukpuk carving was the new way to live and he saw this in a very positive matter. Right from the start he embraced carving with vigor and passion. Johnny carved with large volumes in a naïve style that contrast with the other ''anecdotal Inuit sculpture reflecting an austere, sometimes violent, way of life''(Mary Craig). Life is simple, kids are playing, mothers breast feeding babies with large breast and even hunting scenes look like games.

It is hard to imagine someone being born in an Igloo and dying in an era of Internet and satellite communications. Johnny Inukpuk as seen it all. He leaves with a trace. His carvings are numerous with a unique character. Each being a small page of a unique life history.