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Davidialuk Alasuaq Amittu (sometimes Davidialuk Alaasuaq), Inuit artist, hunter, storyteller (born c. 1910 at a winter hunting camp near Puvirnituq, QC; died 3 August 1976 in Puvirnituq, QC). Davidialuk Alasuaq Amittu was a hunter, artist and storyteller who gained international recognition for his art. He created stone carving, prints and drawings (see also Inuit Printmaking; Inuit Art).
Early Life
Davidialuk Alasuaq Amittu was born at a winter hunting camp around 1910. The winter camp was on an island in Hudson Bay, near Puvirnituq, Quebec. His parents raised him to be a hunter following Inuit traditional ways of life. Throughout his life, he was interested in Inuit traditional stories, and he was known as a storyteller himself.
Artistic Career
In the 1950s, Davidialuk Alasuaq Amittu began his artistic career. He moved to Puvirnituq in 1951, and around this time he started sculpting. As with his storytelling, his sculptures were informed by Inuit traditional stories. He also portrayed experiences of survival and life in the Arctic through his artwork.
He gained recognition as a folk artist near mid-life. Davidialuk entranced his countrymen with spellbinding "true stories" — both Inuit traditional stories and stories of his own invention. He later translated these stories into stone carvings, prints and drawings, many of which were collected because of their ingenuous revelations of a cultural mystique. His last creative outpouring suggests an urgent need to articulate his personal view of Inuit history and morals.
Recognition
Davidialuk Alasuaq Amittu’s work was renowned across Canada and the world. His work was included in collections held at prominent museums and art institutions in Canada, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. By 2003, his work had been included in over 100 group exhibitions. Additionally, Davidialuk’s artwork was the basis of five solo art shows.
