Qaunaq Mikkigak

Qaunaq Mikkigak (alternatively spelled Qaunak, Haunak), is a Canadian artist and author.[1] She was known primarily for sculpting but also created jewelry, story telling, drawing and throat singing.[2] As an artist she was interested in arts and crafts and built artistic works that were inspired by her imagination and emotions. She was also the author of children's books, her works include, "The Legend of the Fog"[3] and "Grandmother Ptarmigan".[4]

Qaunaq Mikkigak also spelled as Qaunak Mikkigak
Born1932 (1932)
Nuvujuak, Nunavut, Canada
Known forSculpture, Jewelry, Story telling, Drawing, Throat singing

Family Life

Qaunaq is the daughter of Mary Kudjuakjuk, a graphic artist. Qaunaq grew up traditionally on Inuit lands and began to make small carvings after her father's death when she was still a girl. She was married to Inuit artist, Ohotaq (Oqutaq) Mikkigak.[1] She resides in Cape Dorset, Nunavut.

Art Work

Sculpting is her preferred artistic medium, Qaunak stated, "It feels very good when you're comfortable in feeling good about your carvings especially when other people like your carvings. Then you know you can do a carving each and every time you begin one."[5] Her work evolves as she builds as she does not depend on preconceived ideas. She began her sculpting practice with simple subjects and spare forms. These evolved in volume and complexity as she developed her artistic style. At times she will combine multiple subjects to create totemic or superimposed forms.[5]

In 1976, she entered a jewelry-making competition that was sponsored by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs titled, "The Things that Make Us Beautiful." She used her skills of sewing, engraving and sculpting to create a series of colorful pieces.[5]

Her work has been shown at that the National Gallery of Canada.[6] According to the Canadian Heritage Information Network, Qaunaq has over a thousand works listed, some of her most notable works include[7] "Reaching for Fish" (1987), "Weird Creature" (1988), and "Selfish Hunter" (1988).[5]

Literary Work

Quanaq is also an author, her most notable work includes Grandmother Ptarmigan. The story of, "a Grandmother ptarmigan trying to get her little ptarmigan to go to bed but he refuses to go to sleep and demands a story instead. Finally, Grandmother gives in and tells him a story about the lemmings that want to come inside to get warm and burrow under his feathers. The little ptarmigan is getting more and more perturbed until Grandmother concludes the story with a bout of tickles. At this point the little ptarmigan is so frightened that he jumps up and flies away and Grandmother cries “nauk, nauk” in her sadness."[8]

References
  1. "Qaunaq (Haunak) Mikkigak". Spirit Wrestler Gallery. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  2. Mikkigak, Qaunaq and Joanne Schwartz (2013). Grandmother Ptarmigan. Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada: Inhabitat Media Inc.
  3. Mikkigak, Qaunaq; Schwartz, Joanne; Christopher, Danny (2011). The Legend of the Fog. Iqualuit, Nunavut.
  4. Mikkigak, Qaunaq; Schwartz, Joanne; Leng, Qin (2013). Grandmother Ptarmigan. Iqualuit, Nunavut: Inhabitat Media Inc.
  5. Leroux, Odette; Jackson, Marion E.; Freeman, Minnie Aodla, eds. (1994). Inuit Women Artists. Vancouver/Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre. pp. 24–25.
  6. "Qaunaq Mikkigak". www.gallery.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  7. Network, Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Heritage Information. "Artefacts Canada". app.pch.gc.ca.
  8. https://search.proquest.com/docview/1530205032


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