A broad-ranging retrospective on the transformation of Inuit art in the twentieth century, Inuit Modern features more than 175 works by seventy-five Inuit artists from one of the
world's most comprehensive privately held collections of Inuit art: the Samuel and Esther Sarick Collection.
In response to new thinking about the North, Inuit Modernconsiders how Inuit have dealt with the swift transition from a traditional lifestyle to the current disturbing complexities of
globalization and climate change. It describes how Inuit art reflects the reciprocal stimulus of contact with Euro-Canadians, and concurrently analyzes the birth and evolution of a modernist
Inuit aesthetic that springs from an ancient cultural context and, through acculturation, has created an exciting new hybridized art form.
Five leading experts on Inuit art have contributed essays and Ingo Hessel, the co-curator, introduces each full-colour plate section, providing a lively and insightful context for the
artwork.
The Inuit voice is a critical component of Inuit Modern, complementing the scholarly essays. In their interviews, artists Zacharias Kunuk and David Ruben Piqtoukun offer the perspective of
Inuit in the twenty-first century. Poems by the beloved writer Alootook Ipellie and quotes from Inuit artists appear throughout the book.
