“Faces (Bone on Bone)” by Manasie Akpaliapik (1955- ), Qikiqtaaluk, ossified whalebone, MIA Collection, 2013.4.30.1-2.
As the Young Canada Works Collections Management Officer here at the MIA, I started my summer off with a group of works – mostly stone sculpture – acquired by the museum in 2013. I have always been interested in different materials used in the production of objects and Inuit art is no exception. So, from day one, I’m sure I sounded like a broken record: “Alysa, what kind of stone is this?” Until finally, I began to recognize the vibrant greens of the serpentinite of a Toonoo Sharky, RCA and the bold black basalt in Barnabus Arnasungaaq’s work.
“Spirit Fish” by Toonoo Sharky (1970- ), Kinngait (Cape Dorset), serpentinite stone, ivory, MIA Collection, 2013.4.41.
“Man” by Barnabus Arnasungaaq (1924 – ), Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), basalt stone, MIA Collection, 2013.4.55.
Soon after I familiarized myself with the stone, I was thrown a curve-ball when I was tasked with cataloging and condition reporting Untitled [Faces (Bone on Bone)] by Manasie Akpaliapik. I found this carving absolutely striking not only in the way the artist has created an eerily lifelike face but because it was a completely new medium to me: ossified whalebone.
My face during the entire experience.
Ossified whalebone is bone from whales that has been dried out over time making it a viable medium for carvings (prior to my time, someone very eloquently explained the process of whalebone carving on this very blog so I won’t go into great detail here). I have worked with bone before, both animal and human(!), but never whalebone! This medium has the same bubbly-spongy look to it as a lot of other bone but only whale-sized! I was entranced by its texture and managed to find a magnifying glass so I could get an even closer look! For what felt like a long time I was lost in the microcosm of the whalebone. When I returned to reality, I finished cataloging and condition reporting the piece. As Collections Management Officer I am required to take detailed photos of each piece and these definitely turned out to be some of my favourites!
Detail of “Faces (Bone on Bone)”
Take a look and see what you think!
Detail of “Faces (Bone on Bone)”
– Posted by: Lauren Williams, MIA’s Collections Management Officer
Museum of Inuit Art Blog 
Fascinating! I’m in.a.slightly different field- paleolithic-stuff -mainly worked artefacts,. I would be very interested to hear more about your ‘micro-graphic’ discoveries ‘!
Yours sincerely
Peregrine
Fascinating! -I would very much like to hear more about your ‘micro-graphic’ discoveries! I’m in a slightly different field- palaeolithic-stuff, mainly artefacts. Have you any more information? -Peregrine