Tuktoyaktuk artist Brian Kowikchuk has just finished his biggest mural project to date.
He created a pair of murals, inspired by the mother of sea creatures, the Inuit legend of Sedna, Nuliayuk or Taluliyuk.
He says he was inspired by the legend of Sedna in creating the sister murals. (Photo courtesy of Brian Kowikchuk)
The murals are called Ancestral Blessings and it highlights the interworkings of the spiritual and material worlds.
Kowikchuk says he was moved by the idea of “the spiritual realm coming to witness the cultural transaction, between the parent and the child.”
“This is me missing my culture celebrating our culture and bringing it back in the best way we can instead of mourning it,” he adds.
They’re considered sister murals, sharing in conversation with the artist to portray Inuvialuit culture, storytelling and tradition.
The smaller of the pair is expected to be displayed at Kitti Hall in Tuktoyaktuk and the other will stay at the Folk on the Rocks site in Yellowknife.
Listen: CKLB Reporter Mariah Caruso speaks with Kowikchuk on his artistic process and what it means to fuse his own healing, tradition and culture into his work.
