, 2008. Fibreglass stone and airplane. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Purchased 2011. Photo © Roman März](/images/content/menuSeeGallery.png)
Benjamin West
The Death of General Wolfe (Detail), 1770
oil on canvas
152.6 x 214.5 cm
Transfer from the Canadian War Memorials, 1921 (Gift of the 2nd Duke of Westminster, England, 1918)
National Gallery of Canada (no. 8007)
Collections
Enlarge image
Sharing the Good Food, 1999
David Ruben Piqtoukun
Canadian (Inuit), 1950
Brazilian soapstone (steatite) and metal (saw blade)
22 x 22.3 x 65 cm
Purchased 2001
National Gallery of Canada (no. 40504.1-6)
© David Ruben Piqtoukun
The "ulu", the woman's knife, was used for a hundred tasks. It was very useful and it became a symbol of sharing. The "ulu" has not been replaced by the outsiders' knives. We still share our food with everyone. - David Ruben Piqtoukun, 1996 In this sculptural representation of a piece of meat cut into six parts, the artist brings to life his thoughts on one of the enduring values of Inuit culture. Here, the "ulu" embedded in the last segment has become more symbolic than realistic - a piece cut from one of the artist's old saw blades stands in for the "woman's knife". This substitution adds another layer of meaning to the work. It was not long ago - when trade goods first came into the North - that "ulus" actually began to be made from old saw blades instead of chiselled stone.
Categories
Audioguide
No Audio
Media
No Media
Library and Archives
Extras
No Extras
More from David Ruben Piqtoukun
Talking Fish34 x 64.5 x 16.5 cm
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
