Biography
Henry Angootimagik Kudluk was born in Churchill, Manitoba and raised in Coral Harbour, Nunavut (then Northwest Territories) with his nine siblings. As a young boy, he watched his grandfather make miniature harpoons as souvenirs for the community’s RCMP officers. Kudluk made his first attempt at carving in grade school, and though he did not enjoy the experience, in part because the available tools and materials were substandard, he did manage to complete a small sculpture of a seal.
Kudluk took up carving seriously in 1998, regaining enthusiasm for art while watching the directors of the Inuit Art Foundation, where he was then employed; give carving demonstrations at the foundation’s yearly arts festival. He learned technique by observing visiting carvers and was given pointers by many well-known Inuit artists. He credits carver Mattiusi Iyaituk of Ivujivik for his inlaying techniques.
Kudluk’s favourite subjects are polar bears and human figures. He recently completed a commission for the Museum of Civilization to produce five carvings at different stages of completion as part of the public programming for the exhibition Iqqaippa: Celebrating Inuit Art 1948-70. He has also taught stone carving to adult students at the National Gallery of Canada.
In the summer of 2000, Kudluk was commissioned to build a life-sized inuksuk at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario. The inuksuk, a rock cairn in the shape of a human often used as a navigational aide by the Inuit, was chosen as the symbol of the Round Square world conference Power of One, held at the college and attended by over 400 international delegates. At the opening ceremonies, Kudluk presented His Royal Highness the Duke of York Prince Andrew with a stone carving he had created for the occasion.
Kudluk also showcased three works in the Department of Indian and Northern Affair’s Inuit Art Gallery (Hull, Quebec) exhibition Urban Inuit, which displayed work by southern-based Inuit artists, and his work is well known by collectors in the Ottawa region.
In the spring of 2002, Kudluk demonstrated his artistic abilities while travelling with Natural Resources Canada in Santiago, Chile. He also was part of the Canadian delegation, which travelled throughout Siberia, sharing knowledge with the aboriginal people of Russia, about the marketing of Inuit art. Kudluk resides in the Ottawa region with his wife and three children. Kudluk currently carves part time.
