Description of the exhibition
The body’s relationship with frozen geographic areas is often largely driven by food. In order to find or hunt it, one must roam the land and move, sweat, and feel the cold on one’s skin. For the Inuit specifically—including Iqaluit-born Couzyn van Heuvelen—culture is intimately connected to each of these movements, which together embody tradition.
Van Heuvelen disrupts preconceived notions of Inuit art by substituting the oversized for the miniature. An avataq is a float, traditionally made with sealskin and attached to a harpoon for hunting. For his work titled after it, the fur is replaced and simulated by Mylar and blown up in scale. In parallel, Nitsiit are gigantic, colourful versions of fishing lures. Together, both bodies of work invite us to consider traditional hunting practices, as well as our relationship with animals and food sources. In northern communities, access to food represents a major economic, social, and cultural issue. Each installation reminds us of the importance of protecting ecosystems and to preserve traditional hunting and fishing practices which are crucial for food autonomy.
