courtesy ARTnews
A drawing by the late Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook has been named one of the 21st century's best artworks, according to ARTNews.
“Known for her drawings that depict contemporary Inuit life, her drawing entitled Man Abusing His Partner, was selected as one of greatest artworks of the past 25 years,” according to the release.
Annie Pootoogook, “Man Abusing His Partner,” 2002
coloured pencil and ink on paper, 20” x 26” (Collection of John R. and Joyce Price)
The drawing shows a memory from Pootoogook's life when she was in an abusive relationship. The work depicts a male figure holding a piece of wood above his head, aimed toward a woman on a bed.
Pootoogook won the Sobey Award in 2006, and her art is found in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario among others. Her work often reflected the experiences of Inuit women and the impact of colonialism and patriarchy on their lives. “She looked at contemporary life in a way no other artist had ever done," SAW Gallery curator Jason St-Laurent told CBC at the time of Pootoogook's death.
Pootoogook was found dead at the age of 47 in the Rideau River in Ottawa in 2016. Her death was declared suspicious by police at the time but no arrests have ever made.
Source: ArtNews. CBC
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