Elijah Pudlat Pootoogook
Inuk artist (born 1943)
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Elijah Pudlat Pootoogook (Inuktitut: ᐃᓓᔭ ᐳᓪᓚ), also known as Elijah Pootoogook, is an Inuk artist born on July 7, 1943, in Kinngait, Nunavut[1] Emerging in the 1960s as a member of the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative, his work was regularly featured in the annual catalog.[2][3] Additionally, he contributed to the creation of a mural for Expo '67 in Montreal and demonstrated the creation of traditional Inuit sculptures at Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan.[3][4] His works can be found in several museum collections.[5][6][7][8]
Family background
Elijah Pudlat Pootoogook comes from a family of artists. He was adopted by printmaker Sharnie Pootoogook (1922–2003) and her husband Pudlat (1919–1992), who was also a printmaker and graphic artist.[9][10] His sister, Sarah Putuguk, followed in their mother's footsteps as a printmaker.[9]
Elijah married Iqarlik (born 1949), a sculptor and graphic artist.[11] Together they had two children.[3]
Artistic career
Artistic techniques
Throughout his career, Elijah experimented with various artistic mediums, including drawing, engraving, sculpture, printmaking, and charcoal.[12]
In the 1970s, American artist and typographer Wilfred Hudson (1928–2014) introduced Elijah, along with other artists such as Annie Pootoogook, Jimmy Manning, and Tukiki Manomee, to typography.[13]
Themes
Elijah Pootoogook's work reflects traditional Inuit culture, depicting daily activities such as hunting, dog sledding, and igloo construction.[14] Much of his graphic work highlights the diverse birds in the Arctic due to migration patterns, while his sculptures often portray whales, caribou, and sea lions.[15][16]
Major works
One of Elijah Pootoogook's most significant collaborations was with Kumakuluk Saggiak on the mural "Le Monde Polaire", showcased at Expo '67 in Montreal.[14] This plaster mural illustrated various aspects of Inuit life.[14] Some parts of the mural have since been incorporated into the architecture of La Toundra Hall at Jean-Drapeau Park, Montreal.[14]
Recognition
While working with Kumakuluk Saggiak on the Expo '67 mural in Montreal, their experience was documented in a National Film Board of Canada (NFB) short film by David Millar.[17] The film, titled "Aki'name" ("On the Wall"), highlighted their creative process and daily life in Montreal.[18]
In 1970, the Canadian government invited Elijah and three other Inuit artists to represent Inuit art at Expo '70 in Japan.[3] Elijah traveled to Japan with his wife Iqarlik and their two children for a six-month residency, where he demonstrated Inuit sculpture techniques at the Canadian Pavilion.[3]
Museum collections
Significance and legacy
For many years, Elijah contributed to the annual print catalogs of the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative, known as Kinngait Cooperative.[2] This community-based art studio is one of Canada's oldest, playing a key role in promoting Inuit art and supporting local artists.
Elijah's participation in Expo '67 and Expo '70 helped bring attention to Inuit art, both at home and abroad.[3]
Today, his works are preserved in leading Canadian museums such as the National Gallery of Canada and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.[8][5][6][7]