Inuit Art at the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec

The Brousseau Collection of Inuit Art at the Musée National des BeauxArts du Québec, one of the largest in the world at 2,100 pieces, is getting a new home. As an inaugural exhibition in the newly constructed Pierre Lassonde pavilion, the permanent installation curated by Dr. Heather Igloliorte is located on the top floor and features a wall of windows that face north. “We feel this is a very important statement,” explains Daniel Drouin, Curator of Early Art at the MNBAQ. The exhibition Ilippunga (I have learned), whose title was given to Igloliorte by Nunavut elder Piita Irniq, boasts 104 sculptures by more than 60 artists, representing twenty different communities in Nunavik, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. It is organized into seven large themes including Nirjutinik Suusutsaniq, Nunami Suusutsaniq (Respect for Animals, Respect for the Land) and Pijitsirarniq and angiqatgiinniq (Caring for Each Other) among others. Translation into the Nunavik dialect was done by Harriet Keleutak with syllabics provided by Taqralik Partridge. “We also added two categories,” says Igloliorte, “which speak to our recent history of colonization and our imminent cultural resurgence.” The exhibition is rounded out with a series of short films featuring Alethea ArnaquqBaril, Koomuatuk Curley, Beatrice Deer, Piita Irniq, Evie Mark, Victoria Okpik and David Ruben Piqtoukun.