Ohotaq Mikkigak

OHOTAQ MIKKIGAK

“I enjoy doing colourful drawings, of people, animals, birds and especially the landscape. I used to enjoy hunting on the land, so that's what I draw. I've done a few drawings of shamans, although I've never seen one. They are stories, true stories, told by my grandmother.”


Ohotaq was born in 1936 and lives in Cape Dorset with his wife Qaunak, who is a carver and traditional throat-singer.

Ohotaq began drawing in the early years of the print program in Cape Dorset, and his print, Eskimo Fox Trapper, was released in 1961. He became less involved with drawing as the community grew, working full time instead for various community agencies. Since his retirement from his job as caretaker of the Peter Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset, Ohotaq resumed his interest in drawing. We were pleased to include three of his prints in the 40th anniversary collection released in 1999. Since then he has become a fixture at the table in the Kinngait Studios, working on drawings covering a wide range of themes and subjects, including an illustrated life history.

Ohotaq had his first solo exhibition of prints and drawings in 2010, and the 2011 print collection includes two of his images. Ullaakut (Good Morning, 2011-25) is the familiar greeting to all throughout the day, and Aqigirq (Rock Ptarmigan, 2011-24) is one of the loveliest images in the collection, beautifully printed in stonecut by veteran printmaker, Qiatsuq Niviaqsi.