Abraham Anghik, Bird/sedna transformation
Brazilian soapstone, (39.4 x 35.6 x 25.4 cm)
SOLD
This complex transformation is an excellent example of Abraham Anghik Ruben's artistry. Sedna, the Inuit governing spirit of the sea and its creatures, is entwined around and merges with a large bird and another spirit, all executed in a beautiful green-brown stone. Traditional Inuit believed that shamans could transform into other creatures, and many sculptures depict various stages of such transformations. Abraham Anghik Ruben was born in Paulatuk, but as a child was sent south to a state school. As an adult, he settled near Vancouver, and carves imported Brazilian soapstone. He has worked to reconnect, through his art, with traditional Inuit beliefs and images. His work was showcased in a recent single-artist exhibit by the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian.
01210-1