Ningiukulu Teevee’s enchanting images have commanded attention and graced the walls of countless homes and galleries since interpretations of her drawings were first included in the Cape Dorset print collection in 2004. In the decade since, Ningiukulu has established a reputation as one of the Canadian art world’s major figures, a powerful force changing the way collectors, enthusiasts, and the art community experience Inuit art. The Inuit Gallery is delighted to introduce Beyond the Surface, a collection of original drawings by a brilliant artist at the forefront of contemporary Inuit art.

Ningiukulu’s drawings reveal a focused, introspective mind, one that bridges the space between two worlds: the westernized world of the modern Inuit, and the vibrant world of myths and legends that transcend generations. Her decisive, unwavering lines reveal a thorough knowledge of her subjects, while the flattened perspectives speak to an interest in creating more than mere facsimile, unveiling the underlying truths within Inuit legends.

Her images are derived primarily from the wealth of Inuit stories that were the means of cultural transmission for generations. Weather conditions often dictated long periods in camp and the hours would be spent in the telling and retelling of the old stories that communicated Inuit history, of their origin as a family as well as a culture and of how individuals were supposed to interact with each other and the animals that provided their sustenance. Where possible we have been able to obtain Ningiukulu’s own description of the individual drawings and her words accompany the relevant images.

We also posed a short series of questions to her and are pleased to include her answers.

We invite you to review these images on line and if you have the opportunity to visit the gallery to see them first hand. We are always pleased to answer any questions you might have and look forward to discussing this magical artist’s works with you.