45
JUDAS ULLULAQ (1937-1999), ᔪᑕ ᐅᓗᓚ, Gjoa Haven / Uqsuqtuuq
POLAR BEAR AND FRIEND
stone, composite
signed in syllabics, c. 1990s
11.5 x 14.5 x 7.5 in — 29.2 x 36.8 x 19.1 cm
Estimate $3,000-$5,000
Realised: $3,840
Price Includes Buyer's Premium
About artist/note:
The humour in this work is so typical of Ullulaq. The bear couldn’t look more woebegone as he carries a small man on his back. Clearly the weight of the man is too much; his knees are buckling under him as the figure reclines on his back. Similar works appear throughout Ullulaq’s oeuvre, such as the bucking musk ox or hunter attacking a musk ox.
Oftentimes, Ullulaq’s work contains inset ivory details rendering it illegal to ship over borders, however in this work the eyes are a manmade composite material making it a great candidate for U.S. or overseas collectors of his work.