ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples: Making Waves in Inuit Art symposium
Artwork by Coco Apunnguaq Lynge.
November 6-8th, 2024
Tiohtià:ke/Montréal, QC
Inuit Futures in Arts Leadership SSHRC-funded partnership grant is soon entering its final year! ! To wrap up this seven-year initiative (and prepare for what comes next) we hosted a closing symposium on Inuit art that coincided with the opening of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' new permanent Inuit art exhibition, curated by the multitalented Nunavimmiuk curator, artist and filmmaker, asinnajaq.
This symposium was the first major gathering focused solely on Inuit visual arts since the Inuit Modern Symposium, which was held in Toronto in November of 2011. So much has changed since then! Almost exactly 13 years later, the ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples: Making Waves in Inuit Art symposium invited artists, curators, museum professionals, scholars, students, Elders and others invested in Inuit art from across Inuit Nunaat to come together and reflect on where we've come from, assess the state of the arts, and plan for the future. Together we shared knowledge and highlighted innovative practices happening within Inuit regions, across Canada, and throughout the circumpolar world. Over the three day period, events hosted by the Montreal Museum of Fine Art, Avataq Cultural Institute, Concordia University, La Guilde, FOFA Gallery, and throughout Montreal included panels, discussions, exhibition openings, curatorial talks, a gallery crawl, performances, vendors, workshops, and more!
ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples: Making Waves in Inuit Art symposium welcomed 300 participants to 3 days of panel discussions featuring all-Inuit panelists. Discussion topics ranged from Inuit cultural heritage, revitalization, arts infrastructures and new directions for the field of Inuit art.
Exhibitions
Inuit Futures collaborated with the FOFA Gallery and La Guilde to present two group exhibitions during the symposium. ᐃᓚᒌᑦ Ilagiit/Relatives curated by Heather Igloliorte and Taqralik Partridge at the FOFA featured contemporary Inuit artists from throughout Inuit Nunaat whose works speak to ways of being in relation: to each other and community, the land, past and future generations, namesakes, and Inuit belongings.
Amisut at La Guilde, curated by Ooleepeeka Eegeesiak, reflects the abundance and richness embedded in this exhibition of ten contemporary Inuit artists working in printmaking and digital illustration– mediums that lend themselves to the concept of plenty.
The symposium coincided with the opening of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' new permanent Inuit art exhibition, ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik essence of life, curated by the multitalented Nunavimmiuk curator, artist and filmmaker, asinnajaq.
Programming
ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples: Making Waves in Inuit Art symposium opened with a qulliq lighting by Akinisie Sivuarapik. Over lunch. Deantha Edmonds, Nancy Mike and Sylvia Watt Cloutier performed throat singing and opera. In the afternoon, Beatrice Deer and Tanya Innaarulik hosted a live recording of their podcast “Northerned.”
On November 7th, ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples celebrated International Inuit Day, with a country food lunch provided by the Southern Quebec Inuit Assosciation, performances by Nunavik Sivunitsavut, art making workshops, gallery tours and the exhibition opening of ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik essence of life, curated by asinnajaq at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
The closing day of the ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples was marked with Suarluni / Emergence: Circumpolar Performances curated by Tanya Lukin Linklater.
Partners and Collaborators
