Bird with Outstretched Wings, 1985
by Shorty Killiktee (1949-1993)
Kinngait, Nunavut, Canada
soapstone
12" high x 19" wide x 2" deep
Shorty Killiktee (1949 - 1993) was a sculptor from the region of Kimmirut, who moved to Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Nunavut, later in life. Beginning to carve in the 1960s, Killiktee’s work tended to focus on subjects surrounding his home in the Arctic. Caribou and birds were a few of the artist’s perennial favorites, lending their distinct forms to Killiktee’s modern style of carving. His brother, Nuyaliaq Qimirpik (1937 – 2007), was also an accomplished sculptor whose work likely influenced Killiktee’s own practice.
Whale (1977), carved from characteristic green Kimmirut stone, showcases the artist’s ability to imbue stylized and simple forms with vibrant life. Lying on its side, the plump beluga swims through a current, using its flexible tail and cupped fins to propel it along. Further emphasizing each curve and rounded feature of the whale, Killiktee polished his stone to an incredible degree of smoothness, manipulating his material to resemble wet and supple animal skin.
More examples of Killiktee’s work are on display today in public collections across Canada, including the National Gallery in Ottawa, ON, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Manitoba. Four of his sculptures were also featured in the Masters of the Arctic exhibition (1989 – 1991), which toured throughout North America. Killiktee’s legacy is carried on by his son, Simeonie Killiktee, and his nephew, Toonoo Sharky, who shares his uncle’s passion for carving birds.
