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Inuit Art: An Introduction
"What we show in our carvings is the life we have lived in the past right up to today. We show the truth." -Paulosie Kasadluak
The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic have created a contemporary art form that is recognized and appreciated around the world for its power and exquisite beauty, an art that embodies the harsh arctic environment and a unique way of life, as well as traditional myths and beliefs. Engaging and authoritative, Inuit An Introduction explores Inuit art from historical, cultural and aesthetic perspectives. The engrossing story begins with an outline of the roots of Inuit art in prehistoric times and through the historical period that began with the arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century. The emergence of Inuit art as we know it came about in the late 1940s, partly through the encouragement of writer and artist James Houston, who also introduced printmaking to Inuit artists. Inspired by his support, Inuit artists quickly brought their art to life, attracting a wide audience almost overnight, and they have continued to develop and refine their work over the past fifty years. To enrich our understanding of the art, Ingo Hessel also provides descriptions of techniques and materials.
The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic have created a contemporary art form that is recognized and appreciated around the world for its power and exquisite beauty, an art that embodies the harsh arctic environment and a unique way of life, as well as traditional myths and beliefs. Engaging and authoritative, Inuit An Introduction explores Inuit art from historical, cultural and aesthetic perspectives. The engrossing story begins with an outline of the roots of Inuit art in prehistoric times and through the historical period that began with the arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century. The emergence of Inuit art as we know it came about in the late 1940s, partly through the encouragement of writer and artist James Houston, who also introduced printmaking to Inuit artists. Inspired by his support, Inuit artists quickly brought their art to life, attracting a wide audience almost overnight, and they have continued to develop and refine their work over the past fifty years. To enrich our understanding of the art, Ingo Hessel also provides descriptions of techniques and materials.
- GenresArt
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Ingo Hessel
9 booksFrom author's website:
Ingo Hessel was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. He was a rock and mineral collector as a child, and for years considered a career as a geologist or archaeologist. Trips to Europe as a teenager, however, generated a keen interest in art and architecture. He graduated in art history at Carleton University, specializing in Medieval art and architecture. In the early 1980s he developed an interest in Inuit (Canadian Eskimo) sculpture, which led to a career at the Canadian Inuit Art Information Centre of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada from 1983 to 1997.
Opportunities to observe Inuit carvers at work in the North and at southern workshops, and the desire to understand the art of sculpture firsthand, prompted Ingo to pursue studies in sculpture at the Ottawa School of Art (OSA) in 1990. He studied sculpture with John Sadler at the OSA, and has also worked with Carol Driscoll, Christoph Späth and Gary Haven Smith at the Carving Studio in West Rutland, Vermont. He resigned from the Canadian public service in 1998 in order to devote himself to making sculpture.
Ingo lived in Kyoto, Japan for eighteen months beginning in March 2001 to pursue his sculpture career more vigorously in a new environment. While in Japan, he made a study of contemporary Japanese sculpture and traditional garden design. This included travelling to the Isamu Noguchi studio museum in Mure, Shikoku twice and volunteering as a garden maintenance worker and tour guide at the renowned Daisen-in Zen temple. It was in Japan that he began working in two dimensions–on paper and canvas. Since moving back to Canada in August 2002 he has returned to Japan three times for exhibition and sculpture projects. His most recent project was an installation of basalt sculptures in the garden of the famous Honen-in Temple in Kyoto in December, 2003.
Ingo Hessel was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. He was a rock and mineral collector as a child, and for years considered a career as a geologist or archaeologist. Trips to Europe as a teenager, however, generated a keen interest in art and architecture. He graduated in art history at Carleton University, specializing in Medieval art and architecture. In the early 1980s he developed an interest in Inuit (Canadian Eskimo) sculpture, which led to a career at the Canadian Inuit Art Information Centre of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada from 1983 to 1997.
Opportunities to observe Inuit carvers at work in the North and at southern workshops, and the desire to understand the art of sculpture firsthand, prompted Ingo to pursue studies in sculpture at the Ottawa School of Art (OSA) in 1990. He studied sculpture with John Sadler at the OSA, and has also worked with Carol Driscoll, Christoph Späth and Gary Haven Smith at the Carving Studio in West Rutland, Vermont. He resigned from the Canadian public service in 1998 in order to devote himself to making sculpture.
Ingo lived in Kyoto, Japan for eighteen months beginning in March 2001 to pursue his sculpture career more vigorously in a new environment. While in Japan, he made a study of contemporary Japanese sculpture and traditional garden design. This included travelling to the Isamu Noguchi studio museum in Mure, Shikoku twice and volunteering as a garden maintenance worker and tour guide at the renowned Daisen-in Zen temple. It was in Japan that he began working in two dimensions–on paper and canvas. Since moving back to Canada in August 2002 he has returned to Japan three times for exhibition and sculpture projects. His most recent project was an installation of basalt sculptures in the garden of the famous Honen-in Temple in Kyoto in December, 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 17, 2021
Якщо хочете познайомитися із мистецтвом інуїтів - це гарний матеріал, де є згадки про найвідоміших митців і жанри, у яких вона працювали/працюють.
November 29, 2009
When I went to Montreal for the first time 2001, one of the things I fell in love with was Inuit Art. Like no doubt most Americans, my knowledge of it extended no further then those soapstone(?) cravings that you can pick up almost any place. I'm not saying that such tourist pieces are ugly. They're not. They're just different.
In Montreal, I went to the Museum of Fine Arts (the English translation. And why are we so ready to go to such places when we are on vacaction, but have trouble seeing the historical and cultural sights at home? What does that say about us?). The Fine Arts Museum had a gallery devoted to Inuit Art. And beautiful art it is. There is something in it that appeals to readers. Each and every work tells a story. It could be an abstract piece or an animal, and yet it tells a story. I may not always know what the story is, but I know some story is being told.
It is that type of art that appeals to me. In the Philadelphia Art Museum, there is a room that houses "paintings" based on the Trojan War. Each painting has some red and some scribbles. Each painting looks like the scribbling I did on the hallway wall when I was six and got in trouble for. I don't get art like that. I don't like art like that. Maybe I lack culture.
But Inuit art is beautiful. One of the reasons why I went to Toronto this year was to see the Inuit Art Museum that is there (the other two were the ROM and the World's Biggest Bookstore), which was where I picked up this book (I can't afford Inuit art at this time. ). Let me pause and say, if you are in Toronto, go to this place. It is small but oh so awesome!
This book gives an overview of Inuit Art, discussing in medium detail the development and different schools. While the book points out various famous artists, it does not go give detail biographies (nor should it). It also retells some of the various myths and legends that are used in the art work. It is lavishly illustrated. While the prose sometimes feels like listing, overall this is a good and easy to read introduction. Hessel's love and knowledge of the subject shines though.
In Montreal, I went to the Museum of Fine Arts (the English translation. And why are we so ready to go to such places when we are on vacaction, but have trouble seeing the historical and cultural sights at home? What does that say about us?). The Fine Arts Museum had a gallery devoted to Inuit Art. And beautiful art it is. There is something in it that appeals to readers. Each and every work tells a story. It could be an abstract piece or an animal, and yet it tells a story. I may not always know what the story is, but I know some story is being told.
It is that type of art that appeals to me. In the Philadelphia Art Museum, there is a room that houses "paintings" based on the Trojan War. Each painting has some red and some scribbles. Each painting looks like the scribbling I did on the hallway wall when I was six and got in trouble for. I don't get art like that. I don't like art like that. Maybe I lack culture.
But Inuit art is beautiful. One of the reasons why I went to Toronto this year was to see the Inuit Art Museum that is there (the other two were the ROM and the World's Biggest Bookstore), which was where I picked up this book (I can't afford Inuit art at this time. ). Let me pause and say, if you are in Toronto, go to this place. It is small but oh so awesome!
This book gives an overview of Inuit Art, discussing in medium detail the development and different schools. While the book points out various famous artists, it does not go give detail biographies (nor should it). It also retells some of the various myths and legends that are used in the art work. It is lavishly illustrated. While the prose sometimes feels like listing, overall this is a good and easy to read introduction. Hessel's love and knowledge of the subject shines though.
February 11, 2016
I would have liked a little more on older Inuit art (the emphasis here is definitely on art from 1940s on), but this does a thorough and readable job explaining all aspects of 20th century Inuit art. Nicely illustrated (although even more color photos would be better).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews