Joe Talirunili
(1906–)
(–1976)
Joe Talirunili
1906–1976
Joe Talirunili (1906–1976) was a fisherman, hunter, guide, storyteller, sculptor, and printmaker born just north of Kuujuaraapik (Great Whale River), Nunavik, Quebec. Joe spent much of his life travelling across Nunavik, spending significant periods of time in Inukjuak (Port Harrison) and Puvirnituq. As a storyteller, Joe used his prints and sculptures to capture his stories, chronicling them in paper and stone.
Joe grew up living on the land, moving between seasonal camps to hunt with his father. He was introduced to southerners at a young age through his father’s work with non-Inuit mining prospects. These experiences were essential in building Joe’s knowledge of the land, traditional Inuit life, and the power of images to share stories across cultures. Joe’s sculptures recount life in the Arctic at the turn of the twentieth century. They depict animals, humans engaging in daily activities, and migration scenes. Joe is known for the rugged quality of his sculptures which are in stark contrast to the prevalent carving style in Puvirnituq, known for its clean finishes, fine details, and dreamlike quality. If a piece of stone broke off while carving, Joe would simply glue it back on, often roughly. He also incorporated a variety of found materials into his sculptures, such as plastic, string, or wood, making the finished product appear fragile or incomplete.
In 1960, Joe and his cousin Davidialuk Alasua Ammittu co-founded the Puvirnituq Co-operative. Beyond his carvings, Joe created around 70 stonecut prints, typically carving directly into the stone rather than creating preliminary drawings. A number of his prints were included in the Annual Povungnituk Print Collection between 1962 and 1977.
Joe’s prints and sculptures have been featured in over 30 exhibitions across Canada, the United States, and Europe, such as Joe Talirunili: Migrations and Movements at the Art Gallery of Ontario on view from 2013 to 2014. In 1976, one of Joe’s Migration sculptures was featured on a 14 cent Canadian stamp. Furthermore, his work can be found in the permanent collections at the Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau, the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, the Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, among many others.