Marruliak (Twins)

Description

‘Marruliak (Twins)‘ by Pitaloosie Saila, RCA – Inuit Art – Cape Dorset 2014 print collection by Dorset Fine Arts, presented by DaVic Gallery of Native Canadian Arts.

Condition:          No condition to be noted.

Description by Artist:     No description by artist found.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:   “Marruliak (Twins)” – Before southern influence, when twins were born, one at least must either be killed or given away, for an Eskimo woman cannot possibly rear both children at the same time.  If one is a boy and the other a girl, it is invariable the girl that is made the victim.  Boys, in fact, are seldom exposed, for they will support their parents when they grow up.  One rarely, if ever, would find living twins among the Eskimo.  Even though there were some, it was very difficult to identify them because they are usually separated at the time of their birth.  This mother is twice happy that she has both her children though it is not common to see a mother carry two babies in one amauti as such would need to be custom made, although it does seem she is not wearing amauti.  Both children and mother look very happy and warm to be so close to eachother.  I don’t know if this is print design or simply overlooked but looking closely the faces of the twins are not identical. It could even be that it is one boy and one girl, which would further challenge to the old ways.  When an Inuit mother feels now this way when in the past she would simply decide at the moment without hesitation to kill one of the babies is but one of the cultural changes brought by southern culture invasion.