Kinngait Studios: Printmaking in the Arctic Circle

For almost 70 years, native artists and printmakers have created prints in this remote Arctic locale that are coveted across the globe. Highpoint’s exhibition highlights recent prints which demonstrate the skill and breadth of work being created in this unique studio.

When the West Baffin Co-operative opened in 1959, printmaking was a new artistic medium for the Inuit community. However, they have been drawing and carving since time immemorial. Imagery that had been passed down through generations found its way into the drawings and prints of this vibrant community. Artists depicting a wide range of imagery are included in the exhibition, from traditional Inuit practices to contemporary subject matter to storied Inuit lore. Artists such as Ningeokuluk Teevee, who has a comprehensive knowledge of Inuit legends, created Nuliajuq’s Fate, a depiction of the origin story of Nuliajuq, the spirit of the sea from Inuit lore.Kananginak Pootoogook, one of the first printmakers to be trained at Kinngait, depicted contemporary Inuit life in his highly-sought after prints. Pootoogook recently received worldwide posthumous acclaim when his drawings were featured at the 2017 Venice Biennale, one of the most famous and prestigious world art events. He is the first Inuit artist to be included in the Biennale and his drawings were seen and admired by millions of visitors.

The artists at the Kinngait printmaking studio work in tandem with the printmakers, who are skilled craftsmen and also members of the Inuit community. The artists create the drawings and imagery and the printmakers translate those drawings into the print medium. Although most traditional printmaking techniques are used at Kinngait Studios, the printers are known for their stonecut prints. The stonecut method, a specialized relief technique, was developed and perfected at the Kinngait Studios. A stonecut carver cuts away at the flat surface of the soft soapstone, which is native to the region. Any of the original surface that remains is inked and printed. Although this is a slow and meticulous process, the resulting prints have a highly-desired visual aesthetic and is unique to Inuit printmaking.

The printmaking tradition at the Kinngait Studios at the West Baffin Co-operative in Nunavut, Canada epitomizes the ingenuity and enterprising spirit of printmaking studios all over the world. We are honored to present these prints to the community and hope that they inspire visitors as much as they inspire the international printmaking communities.