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QAQAQ ASHOONA (1928 - 1996) |
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Qaqaq was born in an Ikerrasak outpost camp on Baffin Island in 1928. He is the son of the celebrated Inuit artist Pitseolak Ashoona. His sister, Napachie Pootoogook is an important graphic artist and his brothers Kiawak and Kumwartok Ashoona, are fellow sculptors. Qaqaq's wife is the renowned Mayureak Ashoona (sculptor and graphic artist) and his son is sculptor Ohitok Ashoona. A reserved man with traditional values, Qaqaq decided to spend the major part of his life not in the modern settlement of Cape Dorset, preferring instead to maintain a year-round camp on the land. Soon after settling in Cape Dorset, he chose to revert back to life in the camp for extended periods of time to practise the Inuit traditional way of life as a hunter and gatherer. His carvings have gained recognition for their sense of monumentality and strength given to animal and human subjects alike. Qaqaq began carving in the early 1950s, as a means for supporting his family, no longer able to survive through traditional hunting and gathering alone. His highly detailed carvings were conceived exclusively with hand tools and he created much of his sculptures at the camp and was known to quarry his own stone.
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