Syllabic Translator

i u a pi pu pa ti tu ta ki ku ka gi gu ga mi mu ma ni nu na si su sa li lu la ji ju ja vi vu va ri ru ra qi qu qa ngi ngu nga lhi lhu lha

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Josiah Nuilaalik

CARIBOU/BEAR SHAMAN


JOSIAH NUILAALIK (1928-2005), E2-385, BAKER LAKE / QAMANI’TUAQ
CARIBOU/BEAR SHAMAN

stone, antler, signed in syllabics,

8 x 9.5 x 4 in — 20.3 x 24.1 x 9.5 cm

Provenance:
a Toronto private collection

Note:
One of Jessie Oonark’s two surviving sons, Nuilaalik carved infrequently until the mid 1980s then quickly forged a reputation as one of Baker Lake’s most imaginative sculptors, renowned for both his spirit and shamanic imagery and the fluid, organic, smoothly rounded forms of his works. Nuilaalik’s gift was his ability to effortlessly blur the physical distinctions between human and animal bodies of various species. One of his greatest transformation sculptures, titled Wolf-Wasp Transformation of 1996, is truly a work of genius (see Hessel, Arctic Spirit, Heard, 2006, fig. 66 or Walker’s Nov. 2015, Lot 18).

Like many of Nuilaalik’s hybrid creatures and shamans, Caribou/Bear Shaman gazes skyward. Even the design of the artist’s trademark antlers adds to the sculpture’s shape-shifting, otherworldly aspect.

Reference: for several similar and related works by Nuilaalik see Marion Scott Gallery, Two Great Image Makers from Baker Lake (Vancouver, 1999). See also Walker’s Nov. 2012, Lot 80.

Estimate: $3,000—5,000

Auction Results

Auction Date Auction House Lot # Low Est High Est Sold Price
2019-05-28 First Arts 66 3,000 5,000 2,880.00

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