Lot 73
Kenojuak Ashevak ᑭᓄᐊᔪᐊ ᐊᓯᕙ, CC, RCA (1927-2013)
Provenance:
Private Collection, Vermont, USA
Note:
Showcasing advanced printmaking techniques introduced later in the artist's life, Observant Owl takes advantage of vibrant colour and the capacity of modern printmaking processes to communicate fine detail. The 2020 Inuit Art Quarterly article, 30 Ways To Describe An Owl According to Kenojuak Ashevak, notes the techniques used in the print, specifically that they "allowed [Kenojuak] to create the fine textures on the bird’s gray-green body as well as the striking transition of the feathers from incandescent yellow into earthy red."[1]
This bold and direct depiction of a lively owl was a highlight of the exhibition “Nipirasait: Many Voices” (2010) at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., a celebration of five decades of Inuit art from Cape Dorset.
[1] IAQ. “30 Ways To Describe An Owl According to Kenojuak Ashevak.” Inuit Art Foundation. August 4, 2020. https://www.inuitartfoundation.org/iaq-online/30-ways-to-describe-an-owl-according-to-kenojuak-ashevak.