Our View: Drawings by Kinngait Women Artists

February 6 - 20

Madrona Gallery is pleased to present a specially selected collection of drawings by multiple generations of female artists based in Kinngait, Nunavut.

First generation artists such as Napachie Pootoogook and Mayoreak Ashoona helped establish the foundation that later artists, such as Shuvinai Ashoona and Ningiukulu Teevee, have been able to build upon in the early 2000’s. It was around this time that a shift started to happen where drawings were being appreciated and promoted beyond simply being the templates for the internationally recognized annual print collection.

With a greater appreciation for drawings, symbolized by Annie Pootoogook winning the Sobey Award in 2006, artist's were able to expand the scope of what they were drawing. We have seen an increase in the size of drawings as well as an important shift in the voice of the artist and the stories they are sharing. Subject matter is now much more specific than symbolic. This helps emphasize the artist's individual experience and how they comment about the world they live in.

The current generation of artists that have become established in the last half decade are experiencing a different time in the discussion and creation of art. They are entering a field where the medium has already been established, paving the way for further experimentation.