Bone Shamans and Ogre Spirits: The Thrilling Madness of Eskimo Figurines – Design You Trust

Bone Shamans and Ogre Spirits: The Thrilling Madness of Eskimo Figurines

Genesis, as we know, determines consciousness, and the Inuit existence was so far removed from ours that their myths seem to be something completely alien.

For example, they believed that one of them became Jesus, and that a shaman who raped a chimera made of animal and human corpses could turn that cadaster into an obedient zombie. In this sense it becomes clear why Inuit art looks so creepy, strange, and otherworldly – it was made by people who lived in a world riddled with spirits. Shamans would swim to the goddess Sedna in the lower world as if for work, and animal souls would return daily for revenge if you forgot to release their inflated gallbladders into the ocean.

The most famous Inuit artist was Karoo Ashevak, a true star of folk art of his time.

Karoo Ashevak (1940 – 1974, the Inuit spelling of his name is ᑲᕈ ᐊᓴᕙ) roamed and hunted in the arctic wilderness of Nunavut, Canada. As a young man he developed a passion for bone carving and gained the respect of his tribesmen as an unusual craftsman. Karoo knew nothing of Expressionism, but his work was precisely Expressionist.

In the 1960s, he settled in the Inuit village of Spence Bay, where he continued to perfect his art. In all, Karoo created 250 works, with the ecstatic experience of the shaman as their main theme. In 1968 Ashevak’s work was noticed far beyond the Arctic, he won prizes in several American folk art contests. “Real” artists celebrated his work (and many surely envied his innate talent). Karoo Ashevak died in 1974–his life was taken by a house fire. He was only 34 years old.
















If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

Norway Builds World’s Biggest Moose Statue
Snow Cuteness or Unusual Winter Hobby: Artist Creates Tiny Snow Sculptures in Dreary Russian Neighborhoods
"Homer Homer" By Cool Shit Collective Is Seen During Sculpture By The Sea Festival In Australia
Singapore Coffee Maker Invented A Fluffy Cotton Candy Cloud Drips A 'Rain' Of Sugar Into A Coffee Cup
Toilet Timer: The Anatomically Significant Sand Timer For Procrastinators
A Wind From The Future World: Amazing Post-Apocalyptic And Futuristic Outfits By Demobaza
Polish Artists Recreate Traditional Slavic Head Wreaths With A Modern Twist
Wearable Macramé Sculptures By Sandra De Groot Serve As Soft Headpieces And Armor
Real Things People Invented: The Dadbag, A Fanny Pack That Looks Like An Exposed Belly
A German Dancer Couple Created Extravagant And Playful Costumes Before They Committed Suicide In 1924
This Photographer’s Business Card Changes Color Constantly And Never Looks The Same
Artist Covers Walls With Cross-Stitch Floral Patterns In Street Installations
Through The Looking Glass: Designer Created Futuristic Silk Scarves Inspired By The Expressive Refraction Of Shape And Colours
Slash Of Guns N' Roses Got His Own Custom Bike Created By Adam Zdanowicz Of Mad Bicycles
20 Wooden Sculptures That Are So Realistic They’ll Leave Everyone With Goosebumps
That's Why We Wanted To Build Communism - To Open Bottles After A Hard Day's Work
Artist Redesigned Famous Logos, Printed Them Out And Repackaged Them In A Way That Will Mess With Your Head … In A Good Way
Artist Re-Reading Damaged Images Of The Virgin Mary Transforming Them Into Icon Characters Of Pop Culture
This Female Artist Creates A Superb Scary Face Paintings
An Artist Turned Biggest Retail Brands’ Bags Into A Chairs
Sculpture Artist Makes Incredible Realistic Busts of Movie Villains
A Whimsical Collection Of Outdoor Lamps With A Gardening Theme
Child Breaks Model Father Was Working On, Mother Turns It Into Gorgeous Car Ruins
Sculptures by Bruno Catalano