Artist Info
Kaka Ashoona
Kaka (Qaqaq) Ashoona ᑲᑲ ᐊᓴᓇ (Disc Number: E7-1101)
1928 - 1996
The son of Pitseolak Ashoona, Qaqaq was born in 1928 in Ikirasak camp located in the Qikiqtaaluk region. He was a hunter and artist, and mostly lived away from the settlement, on occasion staying in Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Nunavut. There he sold his hand-carved sculptures of spirits, animals, and humans when the market for the furs he sold decreased. Qaqaq intentionally focused on the face in many of his carvings, drawing the viewer’s eye to the expressions. He said that "Mostly I seem to carve people. I do carve other animals and birds - seal or walrus or polar bear - I do those but not as often as I do people even though the face seems to be the hardest to do." As well he was known for depicting birds standing on one foot, as seen in the ULAG collection. He was part of a lineage of Inuit artists, with his siblings, wife (Mayureak), and children also becoming artists. In 1996, Qaqaq passed away.
Another bio:
Kaka Ashoona was born September 18, 1928 (or August 19) at Ikerrasaak camp on South Baffin Island.
Kaka's mother was the world famous Inuit artist Pitseolak Ashoona who died in Cape Dorset on May 28, 1983. His siblings included: Napatchie Pootoogook (1938-2003) his sister and a graphic artist, brother Kiawak (b. 1938) was a sculptor as was his brother Kumwartok (1930-1984), and brother Ottochie was as well (1942-1970). His wife was Mayureak (b. 1946) who is a sculptor and printmaker. Kaka's son, Ohitok (b. 1952), is also a sculptor as is his other son Ottokie (b. 1970).
Kaka noted, in a 1996 interview, that he used to support himself and his family solely by hunting and trapping. When the fur trade was "put on hold," as he described it, he turned to carving to supplement his income to support his family. As one observer noted his personality as "reserved" and his values "traditional."
Kaka's sculpture is heavy, characterized by compact forms and use of devices like an arm or hairpiece to create focus on the facial features of the work. The sculptor made the following comments about his work: "Mostly I seem to carve people. I do carve other animals and birds - seal or walrus or polar bear - I do those but not as often as I do people even though the face seems to be the hardest to do."
Since 1953, with the debut of his work at the Coronation Exhibition in London England, Kaka's sculptures have been exhibited internationally and his work has been referenced in various texts on Inuit art.
Source: Katilvik
