Exhibition: Carving Memory

Carving Memory brings together three sculptors, Abraham Anghik Ruben, David Ruben Piqtoukun and Ruben Anton Komangapik, in a two-part exhibition featuring treasures from our collection and some of their most recent works.

With a unique and recognizable touch, the Rubens rank among the most celebrated artists in Canadian Inuit art. David Ruben Piqtoukun and Abraham Anghik Ruben are brothers, while Ruben Anton Komangapik shares a brotherly bond with his mentor David. Each artist evokes a deep connection to their roots, culture and spirituality, telling stories of legends, family histories, healing and resilience. These stories, shaped by generational wisdom and experiences of colonial violence, are brought to life through stone, bronze, bone and ivory.

The gallery space showcases recent works by David Ruben Piqtoukun and Ruben Anton Komangapik. Belonging to two generations, they share a sensibility nourished by spirituality, ancestral knowledge and cultural connection. Their works respond to one another while asserting their own artistic voices.

David Ruben Piqtoukun and Ruben Anton Komangapik explore transformations, animals and shamanism. Charged with symbols from Inuit legends and lived experience, their sculptures transport viewers between past and present, evoking memories of colonial violence while affirming resilience. Their creations are both a path of healing and a way to reconnect with oneself, Inuit heritage and the collective.

The permanent collection features Abraham Anghik Ruben, whose work combines meticulous aesthetics with narratives inspired by encounters among Circumpolar and Nordic peoples. He transforms stories passed down to him into expressions of identity and culture, addressing the scars of residential schools and standing among the great masters of Inuit sculpture.

Inuit belief in the presence of a soul, inua, and the concept of reincarnation unite the Rubens. The exhibition highlights the transmission of stories, culture and continuity between ancestors, future generations and themselves.

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