Transformations

Simon Tookoome, COMPOSITION (ANIMAL HUMAN TRANSFORMATION), Coloured pencil, 29 3/4 x 41 1/2 in.

Since the 1950s, the theme of the transformation is regularly depicted in sculptures, prints, and drawings by Inuit artists hailing from many communities across the Canadian Arctic. Human figures intertwined with animals have been an integral subject in the art form through various styles and media, captivating audiences for decades. While many admire the creativity and spirit that emanates from such pieces, the background of what exactly a transformation is, is often lost.

Today, transformations appear regularly in Inuit sculpture as senior artists recall traditional mythology, and younger artists interpret stories they have been told by their elders. A transformation can be described as the spiritual metamorphosis of a human figure into an animal. Transformation subjects are a recurrent and powerful subject in Inuit spirituality, often depicted through shamans, bears, birds, sea mammals, and mythical creatures.

The Arctic can be an extreme and hostile environment, traditional Inuit belief held that a powerful individual – such as the shaman – could transform in a time of need, taking on the attributes of a specific animal. With the wings of a bird, you could fly away from an isolated ice floe to safety; the cunning of the polar bear might aid you to catch fish to eat. Often, transformation sculptures involving human aspects are believed to depict the shaman and most likely, that is the intent of the artist.

Although some Inuit sculptures relate directly to traditional legends, in many cases we do not know the specific story that the artist is referring to. The artist may be showing us a symbolic ‘type’ of transformation rather than a specific event. Until recently there were still taboos, particularly among the older generation, about discussing traditional mythology and shamanism with non-Inuit. As time progresses, several of the younger generation of artists have begun to share the traditional stories from their elders. In time, we may begin to learn more and gain a deeper appreciation for the exquisite transformations we see in Inuit art today.