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Inuit Art
Inuit art, also known by some as Eskimo art, is, of course, art created by the people of the Arctic. Although it can take many forms, including painting, drawing, sculpture, basket weaving and more, it is most often connected with carvings, and for good reason.Stone carving is in fact the oldest and most poplar form of Inuit art. You have probably seen an Inuit carving of a polar bear or seal done in soapstone. What you may not realize is that, in most cases, a so-called soapstone carving is not really a soapstone carving at all.
Today, most Inuit carving is done out of a material called serpentine. Although harder than soapstone, serpentine is soft and easy to carve. It also comes in a wide variety of beautiful colours, ranging from olive green, yellow or gold, and brown to black. In addition, it is more valuable than soapstone.
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Other Inuit carving materials include ivory from walrus tusks, soapstone, granite, marble, Caribou antler and whale bone.
History of Inuit Art
The Inuit initially began carving to furnish themselves with practical goods such as tools, weapons and other utensils. The nomadic people also carved very small figures that could be worn or easily carried from place to place. These carvings were used for religious purposes to ward off evil, tell stories and share beliefs.In the 1940s, the Inuit nomadic lifestyle came to an end. As people settled in one place, artistic carvings became larger. It was also at this time that the Canadian government started encouraging the Inuit to make and sell their unique carvings to the rest of the world.
Artist co-ops were set up in almost every Inuit village. These co-ops provided tools, materials and the chance to learn techniques to the Inuit people. Selling the Inuit art carvings provided an income to the isolated and impoverished communities and made Inuit art famous around the world.
Today, most artists carve by hand, using axes, saws and files. Once the carving is complete, the piece is polished with sandpaper. Polishing is relatively new to Inuit art; Inuit carvings made prior to the 1950s are often much rougher to the touch and more natural in appearance.
Subjects of Inuit Art
The subjects found in Inuit carvings and other forms of art such as paintings are taken from the Arctic experience. You will often see animals such as:- Bears
- Walrus
- Wolves
- Owls
- Seals
- Muskox
- Birds
Interested in learning more about First Nations art styles? Find out about Woodland Style and Northwest Coast Indian Art.
