Qupanuaq

Description

‘Qupanuaq’ by Qavavau Manumie is a 2025 Cape Dorset original drawing in coloured pencil and Pentel on black paper, depicting a small sparrow perched on a rock — a luminous study of form and stillness that echoes Kananginak Pootoogook’s celebrated Kupanuaq.

Condition: No condition noted.

Description by Artist: No description by artist found.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:   Before this serene instant, the tiny sparrow likely mapped the immense, invisible pathways of the Arctic air, its wings working against the vast northern sky. Now, it suddenly drops down to ground itself on a solitary outcropping of stone, its delicate frame momentarily frozen in perfect equilibrium. Manumie captures the bird in an alert yet profoundly calm posture—its beak slightly parted as if whispering into the surrounding tundra, its wings folded tight, caught in that fragile transition between breath and flight.

In ‘Qupanuaq,’ Manumie builds a masterful dialogue with the legendary bird portraits of Kananginak Pootoogook. Where Pootoogook used precise realism to honor the dignity of Arctic wildlife, Manumie utilizes the heavy black paper to introduce a striking, contemporary atmosphere. The dark negative space acts as a physical vacuum of night, causing the sparrow’s pale, white-penciled contours to look as though they are glowing from an internal light source. It elevates a simple nature study into something deeply spiritual—a testament to a fragile life thriving in a harsh environment.

Manumie’s mastery of line and tone is evident in the subtle gradations of gray that define the bird’s body and wings. Each contour feels deliberate, each curve a whisper of motion. The sparrow’s small scale belies its significance — it stands as a metaphor for resilience, for the beauty found in simplicity, for the quiet persistence of life in the North.

Original drawings of this clarity and refinement by Qavavau Manumie are increasingly sought after, particularly those executed on black paper, which demand exceptional control of light and texture. At this price point, ‘Qupanuaq’ represents an excellent opportunity to acquire a museum‑quality drawing that honors the lineage of Kananginak Pootoogook while affirming Manumie’s own contemplative voice.

The blank sheet of letter‑size (8 ½ × 11 in) paper visible in the final reference image provides immediate scale context, underscoring the drawing’s balanced proportions and the luminous precision of its minimalist design.

Copyright:
© DaVic Art Gallery, 2026. All rights reserved. Content may be quoted or reproduced for educational or promotional purposes only with clear attribution to DaVic Art Gallery of Native Canadian Arts and inclusion of the artwork title and artist’s name.