Pudalik Shaa

Pudalik Shaa
Courtesy Spirit Wrestler Gallery

Biography

Pudalik Shaa is a prolific sculptor from Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU, who hails from a family of talented carvers. Inspired by the practice of his father, Aqjangayuk Shaa (1937 - 2019), Pudalik began carving at the age of 12, selling his first piece for a modest sum in that same year. By age 17, he was able to support himself through his art and has done so ever since [1]. As he learned by watching the elders carve around him, Shaa exclusively used hand tools in his earliest productions – a saw, an axe, a rasp, and various files included. Now, he chooses to embrace the efficiency and precision that power tools can provide [2].

Shaa’s favourite subjects to sculpt are figures caught in mid-motion, seen across his oeuvre of smaller works. This desire to bring forth dynamism and energy is captured in Composition (2010), a transformation piece in which a new body is shown taking shape. Here, the artist concentrates on the fluid nature of forms as he fuses his drum dancer to the heads of a walrus, hawk and goose. As with many of his other works, this figure in Compositon balances finely atop a single leg, highlighting Shaa’s artistic skill and deep knowledge of his materials [3].

An active member in his community, Shaa fondly recalls forming a carving group with his peers in Kinngait, sharing tools and producing art side by side. Recently, the artist pursued further studies in his craft and received a diploma in carving from Arctic College in Kimmirut (Lake Harbor), NU [4].

Artist Work

About Pudalik Shaa

Medium:

Sculpture

Artistic Community:

Kinngait, Nunavut, Inuit Nunangat

Date of Birth:

Artists may have multiple birth years listed as a result of when and where they were born. For example, an artist born in the early twentieth century in a camp outside of a community centre may not know/have known their exact date of birth and identified different years.

19 December 1965
The Igloo Tag Trademark
The Igloo Tag Trademark is an internationally recognized symbol that denotes handmade, original artwork made by Inuit artists in Canada. Established in 1958, the Trademark is now managed by the Inuit Art Foundation. The appearance of the Igloo Tag on an artist profile means they have had the Trademark applied to their artwork.

Edit History

February 23, 2019 Created by: Inuit Art Foundation