Lot 139
JOHN KAVIK (1897-1993)

Additional Images

Literature:
Norman Zepp, Pure Vision: The Keewatin Spirit, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, page 45
Note:
This is the quintessential Kavik carving. A solitary and emotionless man standing squarely to confront his viewer. Norman Zepp describes the characteristics of a typical carving by Kavik, “Hands and feet are barely defined, if not omitted outright, faces tend to be stylized.” Interestingly, Kavik was born in Gjoa Haven - a community known for the forthright and unapologetic carving style of its artists. However he relocated to Baker Lake first then Rankin Inlet where after the nickel mine closed he began carving full time. “The intensity of the harsh but rewarding life Kavik experienced on the land appears to be reflected in his sculpture.”