Name/Title
Whalebone Compostion IEntry/Object ID
2013.04.01Description
Pauta Saila (1916–2009) was a multidisciplinary Inuk artist. He was born in a Kilaparutua camp on Baffin Island, Nunavut and grew up learning to live on the land and how to hunt and carve from his father. Saila’s traditional upbringing and connection to the land greatly influenced his art practice. In the 1960s, Saila relocated to Kinngait and soon after he got active with the artist co-op there.
For several years, Saila would present works to the Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection. The artist was appreciated for his simple and joyful aesthetic as well as his novel method of printmaking, such as employing an axe to carve engraving plates. Although his drawings and prints were an important part of his artistic practice, Saila was best known for sculptural depictions of Arctic wildlife, particularly his carvings of “dancing bears.” Living in the hunting territories of Baffin Island and closely observing the habits of polar bears and other animals, the artist was able to capture the energy and motion of life in the North.
Saila’s work has been exhibited across Canada and internationally including exhibitions in the United States, France, Sweden, Belgium and Germany. His work is held in many public collections such as the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON, the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, U.S. and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Saila was also elected into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2003.