Lot 192
Attr: SILAS AITTAUQ (1933-)
Additional Images
Literature:
Unikkaatuat sanaugarngnik atyingualiit Puvirngniturngmit. Eskimo stories from Povungnituk, Quebec, Zebedee Nungak & Eugene Y. Arima, National Museum of Canada, Ottawa, 1969, pg. 31
Note:
The believed story for this work is that of Kautyayuk, an orphaned boy who was mistreated by others in his community. One night, three bears entered the camp and demanded “give us food or we will eat you.” Kautyayuk was being chased out by the others in the snow house who wanted him to go out and be eaten. Once outside, Kautyayuk grew larger and larger and killed the people and polar bears.
This carving depicts the orphan after he has grown large and with a polar bear at his flank. He holds a whip in his right hand, as per another version of the story, in which Kautyayuk lashes his enemies.