An Afternoon with Kablusiak
Can art be funny? Sincere? For the longest time, my answer to both questions was no. Contemporary art so often trades in the ironic, the detached. This is where Kablusiak’s work differs—dryly funny, the drawings and sculptures have the shadow of the artist imprinted onto them. Zine-like in spirit if not aesthetic, Kablusiak’s drawings feel like autobiographical journal entries, the truthfulness inciting a relatability that aches.
Read a rapid-fire interview with the artist below.
What was the last text you sent?
"I'm trying out this transcription website , I'll let u know how it goes ! "
Where are you as you reply to these questions?
my studio at The Bows
What is the last exhibit you saw?
does INUA count?
Do you have a favourite piece that you have made?
I think the soapstone disposable razor
How much did you sell your first work for?
I want to say, 200? or 400? it was 2nd year of art school, I can't super remember
Coffee order?
either a latte, or a drip coffee with LOTS of room for cream (18% ideally)
Kablusiak is a multidisciplinary Inuvialuk artist and curator who uses Inuk ingenuity to create work in a variety of mediums including, but not limited to, lingerie, white flour, soapstone, permanent marker, bedsheets, felt, acrylic paint, and words. Their work explores the dis/connections between existence in the Inuitdiaspora while maintaining family and community ties, the impacts of colonization on Inuit gender and sexuality expressions, as well as on health and wellbeing, and the everyday.
Kablusiak holds a BFA in Drawing from the Alberta University of the Arts in Mohkinstsis, where they are currently based. In 2021, Kablusiak was part of a team of 4 Inuit curators who curated the inaugural exhibition for Qaumajuq, entitled INUA. In all of their creative work, Kablusiak seeks to demystify Inuit art and create the space for Inuit-led representation of the diverse aspects of Inuit cultures.
ICYMI: Painter Alex Bierk has been doing a takeover of the Canadian Art Forecast Instagram account this last week. I’ve discovered troves of new artists from him.
I’ve been a big fan of Flying Book’s courses for years, which is why I feel confident recommending everyone interested in applying for a Canada Council grant to sign up for a grant-writing workshop led by Fiona King Foster.
Jennifer Carvalho’s exhibition Sign of the times opened earlier this month at Helena Anrather. I was happy to write the press release for the show, which you can read here: http://helenaanrather.com/
In truly messed up news: “Dealer admits to marketing fraudulent Indigenous wood carvings to Canadian museums and galleries,” via the art newspaper
Read Daniella Sanader’s Critics’ Pick of Taşdelen’s show up at Mercer Union until August 21.
Also on Artforum, an interview with Canadian artist Elise Rasmussen, whose film “Year Without a Summer” will be on view at Toronto’s G44 Centre for Contemporary Photography from July 21 to August 21.
I’ll be leading a group of young collectors on a tour of Franz Kaka’s current exhibition on August 12th at 5:30 pm. More info to come, but wander over to YCL to get a ticket before it’s sold out.
PARTING SHOT:
