Samonie Toonoo
Settlement: Cape Dorset / Kinngait
(1969)
Samonie Toonoo was born in Kinngait in 1969. He comes from a family of successful carvers and artists including his father Toonoo, his mother Sheojuk, and his siblings Oviloo Tunnillie and Jutai Toonoo. He began to carve in his early 20s with depictions of Arctic nature.
Samonie emphasizes contrast in his carvings through his use of dark serpentinite and polished antler. This contrast emphasizes connections between people and spirits in his thought provoking works. As Samonie’s style advanced, he began to incorporate text and abstractions into his carvings. These pieces often demonstrate spirits entering and exiting the human body. Samonie also represents themes of colonial trauma through the connection between residential schools and substance abuse issues in the North.
Toonoo is capturing the attention of the South, even though he was not widely exhibited before his death in 2017.
Artwork
| Title | Last Sold At Auction | |
|---|---|---|
| CARIBOU | 2015-01 (January 2015) | |
| HANDS HOLDING A MASK | 2021-06 (June 2021) | |
| PLAYING | 2012-02 (February 2012) | |
| SPIRIT FIGURE | 2014-06 (June 2014) | |
| SPIRIT PALMS | 2012-05 (May 2012) |
