1

Elijassiapik [1912 - 1972]


His story
Born in 1912, Elijassiapik, whose full name is Putuji Ekujasi Qiirtuuq Elijassiapik, lived for awhile in a camp north of Inukjuak. Like his brother, Johnny Inukpuk, he was a serious artist. According to Darlene Wight, curator of Inuit art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Elijassiapik was likely not a very prolific carver as few of his works can be found in collections (Wight 2006:89). His three sons, Harry, Simeonie, and Eli, also took up carving.

His art
Many of Elijassiapik's carvings were of mothers and their children. Inuit art historian Jean Blodgett wrote about their treatment in Grasp Tight the Old Ways, published by the Art Gallery of Ontario in 1983: "The mother figure can be compared to that of his brother, Johnny Inukpuk who, as the more productive carver, is better known. We often see in Inukpuk's sculptures of a mother and child the same concern with archetypal womanhood" (1983:174). She also noted that Elijassiapik used insets of ivory in his stone sculpture (ibid.).


References
Blodgett, Jean
1983 Grasp Tight the Old Ways. Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario.

Wight, Darlene
2006 Early Masters. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery.

2

"Mother and Child with Kudlik" by Elijassiapik
1950s
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada

3

"Hunter with Club" by Elijassiapik
1962
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada


Credits:
Photo: York University

4

"Sedna" by Elijassiapik
1979
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada

5

"Mother Lacing Child Garment" by Elijassiapik
1950 - 1980
Inukjuak, Quebec, Canada