Profile: Marc Alikaswa

Marion Scott Gallery is pleased to present an online profile featuring five sculptures by Arviat’s Marc Alikaswa (1928 – 2008). A leading artist of his generation, Alikaswa was known for his distinctive depictions of human figures in grey or black stone. Neither exactly clothed nor unclothed, Alikaswa’s bulky portraits of people sitting or kneeling are distinguished by their unpolished surfaces and blunted forms unencumbered by ornate detail. Elemental and often even stark in mood, these works reflect a deep connection, both materially and thematically, to the land from which they emanate.

Three of the sculptures feature mother and child images, the classic theme for which Arviat’s artists are known. In these organically formed works, child and parent are joined into one entity, expressing the power and centrality of the maternal bond in Inuit culture. A fourth sculpture portrays two people sitting side by side; although the two figures are individually formed and face in different directions, the separation between them is only partial, conveying a theme of human connectedness. Only one work in the profile features a person portrayed singly. A work from the earlier part of the artist’s career, its relative delicacy and refinement provide a fascinating contrast to Alikaswa’s later, more forceful style.