Drawing Item Number: 3223/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A drawing on a single-side piece of white paper. The drawing is horizontally oriented. The left edge of the paper is cut at a curve; the top edge is longer than the bottom edge. On the far left-side, a wide "V" is drawn in yellow; a green line borders the inside of the "V," and a brown line is drawn on the right exterior edge of the "V." Extending vertically from the centre of the "V" is a green band filled with criss-crossing assemblages of green lines. Green circles, of various sizes, are drawn horizontally in the interior space of the "V." In the centre of the drawing is a human skull outlined in brown ink; a brown harpoon tip attached to a rope is drawn behind the skull. A green bar filled with a criss-cross pattern is positioned along the bottom edge of the paper; a human-like hand drawn in brown ink grips the top of the bar. On the right-side of the drawing is a yellow "L" shape rotated ninety degrees clockwise; the exterior of the "L" is bordered by a brown line and the interior is bordered by a green line. A wavy green band filled with criss-crossing assemblages of green lines, extends horizontally from the "L" to the right edge of the paper. The reverse-side of the paper is blank.
History Of Use
These 62 small works (3223/1-62) comprise a collection of drawings in pencil, ink, pencil crayon, and felt pen made by the artist between the years 1968 and 2015. During that period the artist has identified himself by the following names: Ron Hamilton; Hupquatchew; Ki-ke-in; Kwayatsapalth; Chuuchkamalthnii; and Haa’yuups. The drawings are, for the most part, applied to the backs of bookmarks acquired from a range of bookshops; some are applied to other pieces of paper or cutouts from his earlier silkscreen prints. Many of the images represent killer whales, often in conjunction with accoutrements and symbols of Nuu-chah-nulth whaling. The juxtaposition of bookmark and representation of Nuu-chah-nulth himwits’a, or narrative, is a deliberate and meaningful placement of two distinct knowledge systems in relationship with one another. Ephemeral drawings like these were not created for the market; the artist has long made them for himself and sometimes as gifts for relatives and friends; they are a way of sharing his knowledge and experience about Nuu-chah-nulth ways of knowing, thinking about, and being in this world; they are expressive of what he calls kiitskiitsa: marks made with intention.
Item History
- Made by Ron Hamilton (Maker) in British Columbia, Canada between 1968 and 2015
- Owned by Ron Hamilton before November 8, 2016
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source), Michael O'Brian Family Foundation (Funding source) and Ron Hamilton (Seller) on November 18, 2016
What
- Name
- Drawing
- Identification Number
- 3223/1
- Type of Item
- drawing
- Overall
- height 3.3 cm, width 21.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Nuu-chah-nulth: Hupacasaht
- Creator
- Ron Hamilton (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Ron Hamilton
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget (Funding source), Michael O'Brian Family Foundation (Funding source) and Ron Hamilton (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- between 1968 and 2015
- Ownership Date
- before November 8, 2016
- Acquisition Date
- on November 18, 2016
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3223/0001