ᑲᕙᕙᐅ ᒪᓄᒥ
QAVAVAU MANUMIE
ᑲᕙᕙᐅ ᒪᓄᒥ
QAVAVAU MANUMIE
1958 - present
Inuit
Kinngait, Dorset Island, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada
Graphic Arts
Qavavau Manumie was born in Brandon, Manitoba where his mother, Paunichea, was hospitalized for treatment of tuberculosis. He returned to his family home of Kinngait as a young child and has lived and worked in the hamlet ever since. Qavavau is an active part of the second generation of Inuit artists from Kinngait that have attracted critical acclaim and have benefited from increased national popularity in recent years.
His prints and drawings cover a wide range of structural styles, from the expressive to the didactic. He is best known for his precisely executed prints which depict stories from Inuit oral traditions, Arctic wildlife and
contemporary reflections on Inuit life in the Arctic. His work is often joyful and playful.
One of the unique themes of his work was inspired by the stories he was told as a child by his father of the Inuralaat (little people). These tiny humanoid figures often wander through his prints moving items from place to place, participating in humorous activities or everyday labours with the main subjects of the landscapes such as harpooning or fishing. These mysterious figures are just one of the reasons his work prompts close attention; for while they may often appear playful, they also can speak poignantly to many of the challenges Inuit communities face living in the far North. In his Untitled Landscapes from the 90's, Qavavau's Inuralaat can be seen fleeing from deep cracks in the sea ice, their homes in ruins. Like many Inuit artists in Kinngait, Qavavau often uses his work to express the uncertainties and concerns felt by local communities who are impacted by Arctic climate change.
His first solo exhibitions took place in Toronto and Vancouver between in 2008-9 and his work has been featured in many of the Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection releases since the mid 1990's, including their most recent releases.
Qavavau is a master printmaker and has worked in the Lithography and Stone Cut Studio at the renowned Kinngait Studios for many years. He regularly assists Co-op artists to create prints and teaches printmaking techniques to young artists and studio visitors.
