Profile: Aghalingiak
Aghalingiak working on the second wall of the Ikaluktutiak Hamlet Public Swimming Pool (2019). Collaboration with the Government of Nunavut Dpt. Of Mental Health, the Dpt. Of Justice and the Hamlet of Ikaluktutiak. Photo courtesy of Aghalingiak.
Born in Yellowknife, Aghalingiak (Zoe Ohokannoak) is an artist, creative consultant and student at NSCAD University, working towards their Bachelor of Fine Arts. They are Innuinait and grew up primarily in Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut, but throughout their life, Aghalingiak has moved and lived in various spaces. For them it was interesting to experience their home in Ikaluktutiak, and then experience city life, as they describe, “all spaces had their own quirks.” Aghalingiak’s mother— who they describe as being the number one supporter of their career as an artist— went to a university in Alberta, where she took a few arts based courses and Aghalingiakoe partially credits their affinity for the arts to this period of their mother’s life. However, Aghalingiak explains that they knew they wanted to be an artist from a young age, “I kind of knew almost the whole time [their entire life]. My mom still has little drawings from before I started kindergarten, even before daycare”.
Aghalingiak’s career as an artist took off in high school when they painted multiple murals at Ikaluktutiak High School, including ones on the school’s canteen and murals for suicide awareness. For Aghalingiak, murals present an exciting challenge of transferring a small sketch to a large space— transforming a small work into something monumental. Aghalingiak’s mural work continued when they took a position working in the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health, in the mental health facility. Crediting supportive supervisors, managers, and colleagues, Aghalingiak says they were thrilled to paint four large-scale murals on the exterior walls of the Ikaluktutiak Public Swimming Pool. Initially, Aghalingiak wanted to plan a youth camp, but when a colleague suggested they repaint an outdoor swimming pool after walking past the pool, Aghalingiak took the project idea to their supervisors. The murals at the swimming pool were particularly meaningful for Aghalingiak because the project included youth and members of the community— even toddlers. Aghalingiak is particularly passionate about doing work for communities, especially projects that involve youth whenever possible. Their work for communities also translates well into their other murals, Hangujuq (Wander) and Ikajukti (Helper) (2020), at the Cambridge Bay Mental Health Facility.
One wall of the Ikaluktutiak Hamlet Public Swimming Pool (2019) Collaboration with the Government of Nunavut Dpt. Of Mental Health, the Dpt. Of Justice and the Hamlet of Ikaluktutiak. Photo courtesy of Aghalingiak.
Now, as a student at NSCAD, Aghalingiak is excited to dive into other media and explore art history. Their courses have allowed them to dabble with foundry, metalwork, and develop their practice in painting and drawing. In the future, Aghalingiak is eager to learn more about Inuit tattoo design, inspired by Inuk artists like Hovak Johnson. Through Inuit Futures, Aghalingiak has been able to further explore their interest in Inuit tattoo practices by working with mentor Dr. Carla Taunton on an art history research internship that explores Inuit art and tattoo design, oral histories and clothing, conducting their research in libraries and by meeting with other Inuit. Aghalingiak was first introduced to Inuit Futures through Taunton in late 2019, who heard of Aghalingiak’s mural work at the swimming pool on Nunavut News. They are thrilled to be part of Inuit Futures where they can meet other Ilinniaqtuit, and learn from other artists. Aghalingiak is looking forward to seeing the results of their research internship with Dr. Taunton in the form of an exhibition about Inuit tattooing at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (Winnipeg, Canada) in 2022.
Aghalingiak, Hangujuk (wander), 2020, Exterior Acrylic on 4' x 8' plywood. Photo courtesy of Aghalingiak.
Aghalingiak, Ikajukti (helper), 2020, Exterior Acrylic on 4' x 8' plywood and varnish. Photo courtesy of Aghalingiak.