'I think it shows, you know, just what's going on out here. There's lots of really great, great work'
Joseph Tisiga, whose paintings and drawings explore ideas of Indigenous and colonial history, identity and culture, has won the inaugural Yukon Prize for Visual Arts.
Tisiga was among six artists on the shortlist for the $20,000 prize. He was named winner on Saturday, selected by a three-person jury of experts from outside Yukon.
"Man, I'm really thankful," Tisiga said on accepting the award on Saturday evening, which was also his 37th birthday.
He said he was excited to be considered for the award alongside the other five finalists — Tlingit carver Ken Anderson; multidisciplinary artists Amy Ball and Krystle Silverfox; fashion designer Sho Sho "Belelige" Esquiro and sculptor Veronica Verkley.
"I think it shows, you know, just what's going on out here. There's lots of really great, great work, big thinkers," Tisiga said.
Tisiga grew up in Yukon and is a member of the Kaska Dena Nation. He's now based in Montreal since moving there two years ago, but says Whitehorse will always be his home.
He describes much of his work as narrative or story-based. He's done a lot of drawing and watercolour but says he's lately been exploring more "sculptural or assemblage-based work."
