TRIBUTE

Victoria Mamnguqsualuk Tukiki Manumie Jack Nuviyak Miriam Qiyuk Thomas Webster

Tukiki Manumie was born in Hamilton, ON, where his mother, graphic artist Paunichea (1920–1968), was being treated for tuberculosis. Following her recovery, Manumie and his mother returned to their home of Kinngait (Cape Dorset), NU, then in a time of radical transformation from an isolated settlement to a thriving modern community. Manumie came from a family of many artists, including his mother, his father Davidee Mannumi (1919–1979), his grandfather Kiakshuk (1886–1966) and his brothers Aqjangajuk Shaa and Qavavau Manumie. Though he experimented with graphics and made interesting, highly patterned drawings, Manumie is best known for his serpentinite carvings, a practice he began in the 1970s. Manumie’s distinct, sinuous carvings of birds, fish and scenes of transformations are more suggestive than figurative. His penchant for elongated forms and curved edges sets him apart from his contemporaries and makes his work, which sometimes borders on the abstract, instantly recognizable. Manumie’s work has been exhibited internationally and can be found in major collections in Canada and abroad. We were sad to learn that Manumie passed away in January 2017. Manumie will be deeply missed by his family, hometown and the entire Inuit art community.