Marion Tuu’luq: A Gentle Disorderliness

Of two of the three significant works of nivingajuliat (tapestry, or wall-hanging) by Marion Tuu’luq, Untitled (Transportation) and Untitled (Travelling) are closely related, and may have been conceived as an informal diptych.

Both images are made up of objects in rhythmic, sometimes colliding movement, a feature distinctive to the oeuvre of Tuu’luq, but unusual for its depiction in the present works, of mechanical conveyances.

Untitled (Travelling) is composed of vehicles and their occupants, and Untitled (Transportation) only vehicles (save a pair of disembodied legs).

Both images feature frenetic movement interspersed with maple leaves in a manner typical of what author Marie Bouchard has called a “gentle disorderliness” in the images of Tuu’luq.

Images of maple leaves are often emblazoned in Qamani’tuaq on vehicles visiting from the South, but also signal notions of place and identity which Marie Bouchard notes, were very much on the mind of the artist, “[Tuu’luq’s] art explores the issues of self-identity and collective cultural identity and how these could be negotiated between two cultures whose boundaries of understanding are in constant flux and open to outside influences.”[1]

A combination of vibrant and muted colours in the compositions are an exemplar of Tuu’luq’s interest in the abstract visual elements of her craft, and bring a complex visual texture to these two important works of nivingajuliat.

About the Artist

Born on the land in 1910, at the Innituuq camp near Chantry Inlet, Tuu’luq lived a traditional lifestyle with her family before moving to Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), in the 1960s with her husband Luke Anguhadluq.

Tuu’luq began making artwork, including prints, drawings and textiles, Using her traditional sewing skills, she later started to create wall-hangings.

Waddington’s is honoured to have offered several examples of Tuu’luq’s work, including Together in Spring, 1977, which sold for $72,000 in our May 2019 major Inuit art auction, amongst others.

[1] Marie Bouchard, Marion Tuu’luq (Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2002), 21.

Untitled (Transportation), and Untitled (Travelling) are two of over 20 exceptional works from the important lifetime collection of former Northwest Territories Arts and Crafts Development Officer David Sutherland.

ABOUT THE AUCTION

This major auction of important Inuit art includes selections from the collection of former Northwest Territories Arts and Crafts Development Officer David Sutherland, the complete collection of prints by Parr, assembled for the 1979 Parr retrospective, and significant works by Marion Tuu’luq, Karoo Ashevak, John Pangnark, Judas Ullulaq, Osuitok Ipeelee, Pauta Saila, Kenojuak Ashevak, Pudlo Pudlat, Joe Kiloonik, Oviloo Tunnillie, and others.

The auction is offered online May 8 – 29, 2025.

You must be registered to bid in this auction. Please register here.

PUBLIC PREVIEWS

Previews at our Toronto gallery located at 100 Broadview Avenue, are available:

Wednesday, May 21 from 10 am to 7 pm
Thursday, May 22 from 10 am to 5 pm
Friday, May 23 from 10 am to 5 pm
Saturday, May 24 from 12 pm to 4 pm
Sunday, May 25 from 12 pm to 4 pm
Monday, May 26 from 10 am to 5 pm
Tuesday, May 27 from 10 am to 5 pm
Wednesday, May 28 from 10 am to 5 pm
Thursday, May 29 from 10 am to 12 pm

Or by appointment.

Contact us to find out more.