DAPHNE ODJIG (1919-2016)
THEY TELL US MANY THINGS, 1977
signed and dated '77; titled on the reverse; also titled to gallery labels on the reverse
28 ins x 24 ins; 71.1 cms x 61 cms
June 09, 2022
Estimate $12,000-$18,000
Realised: $28,800
Although Odjig experimented freely with her style, it is always recognizable. Cubism and Surrealism influenced her work, and while the composition with its implication of interconnectedness and cosmological layers is distinctly Nishnaabe-Neshnabe, Picasso’s touch can be felt in They Tell Us Many Things—particularly in the face of the uppermost figure.
In addition to her tremendous contributions as a visual artist, Odjig, often referred to as the ”Grandmother of Indigenous Art,” is remembered for her mentorship and support of a multitude of younger artists. They Tell Us Many Things showcases such a transfer of knowledge, perhaps between generations, or perhaps between the realms of the supernatural and the terrestrial.
This painting was purchased at the Jack Pollock Gallery when it was located on Scollard Street, Toronto, Ontario.
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