The Fading Trap

Diane Robertson( 1960-1993 ) was an Inuit painter and sculptor. Her sculpture, ”The Fading Trap”, graces the entrance to ”Encounter With The First Nations”, a permanent exhibit at the Musee de la Civilization in Quebec City. It is a permanent exhibition on Quebec’s Aboriginal peoples. The corporate sponsor of the exhibit is Hydro-Quebec a provincially owned corporation, who in concert with Quebec governments of various persuasions, have been a major contributor to the destruction of Native culture;  principally achieved through violating the native peoples social contract through the destruction  and geographic alteration of their land and habitat through the construction of  hydro-electric dams.This, in addition to the awarding of mineral and mining rights without consent or consultation to large corporations, particularly in the 1970′s.

 

 

It seems apparent that Native identity would be tied to territory and autonomy which would be the physical link to their spirituality. There is a disquieting anger among the native people’s that is going to be avoided in a corporate exhibit with a bias towards folklore and stereotypes. Art seems to be the most viable response to a difficult set of circumstances.

 

 

Most Inuit art is predominantly narrative in content. It depicts their traditional life-style, the animals of the North, the spirit of those animals and more particularly  the shamans and mythologies which are their link to the spirit world. Its the cosmological nature of Inuit art which provides its diversity and its characteristics which are most compelling.

Interst in Inuit art has also increased the supply and degraded quality standards in recent years.

carving materials are now brought in from the south.