Celebrating 25 Years of Canadian Arctic Gallery in Switzerland
In 1996, on our first trip to Canada, we came into contact with this wonderful art created by the Inuit from the Canadian Arctic for the first time in a gallery in Toronto. The energy that radiated from these artworks was immense and left a lasting impression on us.
Inuk Sitting
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland)
We loved this little guy and took him home with us. Every time we passed it, he seemed to ask: when are you opening a gallery in Switzerland? In 1998, on our second trip to Canada, we stumbled across another Inuit art exhibition at the Convention Center in Vancouver. The starting signal for the ‘Inuit Art Gallery’ project had been given. Less than a year later, on September 9, 1999, we opened our gallery with a special event at the Hotel Europe in the presence of Canadian Ambassador John J. Noble, Basel’s Director of Education Stefan Cornaz and with musical accompaniment by the Stadtmusik Basel.
Invitation to the official opening of Canadian Arctic Gallery in 1999
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland)
Nine months later, we received our first visit from the Arctic. On their trip to Switzerland, Ovilu Tunnillie, Kananginak Pootoogook, Pakak Inukshuk and John Houston made a detour to our gallery in Basel.
Ovilu Tunnillie, Pakak Inukshuk, John Houston and Kananginak Pootoogook on Pfalz, Basel-Switzerland
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland, May 2000)
In the morning, Pakak Inukshuk drummed to generate good energy for the gallery…
Pakak Inukshuk drum dancing at Canadian Arctic Gallery, Basel-Switzerland
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland, May 2000)
… and Ovilu as well as Kananginak talked about their live as artist and their culture and believes.
Ovilu Tunnillie talking about her art at Canadian Arctic Gallery, Basel-Switzerland
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland, May 2000)
Kananginak Pootoogook talking about his art at Canadian Arctic Gallery, Basel-Switzerland
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland, May 2000)
And the big event ‘Arctic Live Evening’ was opened by Dr. Wiepke Ahrndt in the Cliqué cellar of the Lälli-Cliqué…
Dr. Wiepke Ahrndt at the opening reception , Cliqué cellar Lälli Cliqué in Basel-Switzerland
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland, May 2000)
… followed by insights into Inuit art by John Houston and Ursula Grunder. It was a very special and moving evening in this spectacular cellar, which is not normally open to the public. We still recall the vibrations caused by Pakak Inukshuk’s drum dance.
Ursula Grunder and John Houston talking about Inuit art, Cliqué cellar Lälli-Cliqué Basel-Switzerland
(Photo: © Canadian Arctic Gallery, Switzerland, May 2000)
And thanks to you – dear Inuit art and culture enthusiasts – this was not the last event of the Canadian Arctic Gallery, but today we can celebrate our 25th anniversary. We would like to express our sincere thanks to you.
