Eye on the Arctic – Circumpolar art takes centre stage

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A new exhibit called Sakahàn, featuring works by indigenous artists from around the world, is currently underway at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Eighty-two artists from 16 different countries are featured. Of those, 25 are indigenous artists from Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland and the Arctic regions of Norway, Finland and Sweden.

The strong showing proves just how dynamic work produced by circumpolar artists has become, says Christine Lalonde, associate curator of indigenous art at the National Gallery of Canada.

“There’s a great richness to the northern artists in terms of the media,” she says, listing film, photography, site specific installations, drawing, painting and sculpture.

And though the artists featured in Sakahàn share similar concerns globally, Lalonde says certain features of the northern artists’ work stand out.

“Their starting point is very much a personal one,” she says.  “So while the message may be political, cultural, social, it always starts with a personal narrative or connection to their subject.”

Shuvinai Ashoona, from Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, Da-ka-xeen Mehner from Alaska, Saami artist Outi Pieski from Finland and Inuk Silis Høegh from Greenland, are just an example of some of the artists represented in the exhibition.

For a complete lists of Sakahàn artists, click here

The exhibit runs until September 2, 2013.

To find out more, Eye on the Arctic’s Eilís Quinn spoke with Christine Lalonde about the northern artists and artworks featured at Sakahàn.

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Related Links:

Sakahan – National Gallery of Canada

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