JESSIE OONARK (1906-85)
Wall hanging
c. 1973RCIN 94126
In 1973 The Queen was presented with this wall hanging by the Inuit People of the Northwest Territories of Canada. It was worked by the distinguished multi-disciplinary artist, Jessie Oonark, of Baker Lake. The hanging is of wool and felt with stitchwork representing Inuit women, their knives (known as ulus), parka hoods for carrying babies and polar bear transformation figures which are shown as half bears and half fish. It is typical of Jessie Oonark's style with the use of bold, flat areas of colour grounded in traditional Inuit sewing techniques.