Additional Images

Provenance:

Private collection, Toronto, ON

Note:

Still actively living off the land in the early 1960s, Thomas Sivuraq (also Tommy Sevoga) has been clear in articulating the reasons for his carving in the early days of his output, saying in a 1998 interview with Henry Kudluk “...carving was a way for me to get bullets for my rifle and supplies to go hunting.” [1]

A highly talented and respected artist, Sivuraq was also an accomplished printer and was responsible for printing numerous important works of Qamani’tuaq (Baker Laker) graphics including works by Jessie Oonark and Luke Anguhadluq. [2]

Here in this delightful figure, with downturned hawk-like beak and cloak-like wings, Bird Shaman the artist approaches transformational subject matter so often investigated in his work.

(1) Kudluk, Henry; Thomas Sivuraq, “Focus: Thomas Sivuraq” Inuit Art Quarterly, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1999. p. 27.
(2) Barz, Sandra Buhai, Inuit Artists Print Workbook, (New York: Arts and Culture of the North Publishers, 2003), Vol. III, Book 1.

Related Works:
Waddington’s Auctioneers, Toronto, ON, June 1, 2015, lot 60. Click here to read more