Gilded Avataq Item Number: 3403/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Lithograph print on rectangular, off-white paper. Close up design of avataq, sealskin float, in portrait orientation. Float done in light yellow. Front flippers have jagged black line across them, depicting fur, and claws. Long tie, done in light yellow, looped around back flippers. Tie disappears under body and appears again on right side of float, curled in a circle. Majority of body covered in black abstract, curved triangle designs. Bright red syllabics overtop of embossed bird-like figure, in bottom right corner. Syllabics handwritten in pencil overtop of embossed symbol of the West Baffin Eskimo Co-Operative, in bottom left corner. Beneath avataq design is the title, print type, edition number, 10/50, year and artist signature. All handwritten in pencil. “08-2” handwritten in pencil on back of print, in bottom left corner. Faint imprint of words, and an infinity symbol, on back of print, in bottom right corner.

Iconographic Meaning

An avataq is a sealskin float used in conjunction with a harpoon, when hunting from a kayak.

Item History

What

Name
Gilded Avataq
Identification Number
3403/1
Type of Item
print
Overall
height 77.0 cm, width 57.0 cm

Who

Culture
Inuit
Creator
Arnaqu Ashevak (Maker)
Previous Owner
Nigel Reading, Derek Norton and Gary Wyatt
Received from
Nigel Reading (Donor), Derek Norton (Donor) and Gary Wyatt (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada and Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada

When

Creation Date
during 2008
Ownership Date
before October 30, 2019
Acquisition Date
on October 30, 2019

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
good
Accession Number
3403/0001