Sangani Osuitok

Iqaluit

Sangani Osuitok was born in Iqaluit and now resides in Cape Dorset. He was only five years old in the mid-1960s when he first tried to carve in his father’s studio, Osuitok Aipeelee. He recalls having carved a small bird which he sold for ten cents. While inspired by his well-known father’s carvings, Sangani distinguished himself by carving modern clothes onto his figures.

While some of his carvings have more modern characteristics, the tradition of Inuit sculpture is very important to him. He taught the younger generation the techniques of carving. When at Fenbrook in Ontario, he helped the administration set up a carving program for inmates. He followed the same principles of that program when teaching youth in Cape Dorset. This formal style of teaching is unusual amongst Inuit art; most artists learn through an apprenticeship or simply by watching others and practicing alone.

Sangani has had exhibitions in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, and France.