Nuqingaq’s take on traditional snow goggles on exhibit

Iqaluit-based artist Mathew Nuqingaq’s solo exhibition Masquerade opens today (June 13) at Toronto’s Feheley Fine Arts.

The show features snow goggles in all manner of imagined forms and multiple materials, which many have seen by way of his Facebook page, where he shares his experiments. Some readers will recall royal visitors to Iqaluit, along with many other famous faces – Inuit and non-Inuit alike – sporting a pair.

“Nuqingaq’s wearable artworks are sculptural yet functional and combine diverse materials including muskox horn, antler, baleen, silver, copper, gold and wood,” states the gallery in a news release.

Other pieces of Nuqingaq’s jewellery, which draw on Inuit stories and symbols, will also be featured alongside the snow goggles.

“Nuqingaq is a multifaceted artist who works in jewellery, sculpture, performance and photography. He is dedicated to supporting the Inuit artistic community and in 2007, founded the Aayuraa Studio in Iqaluit, where emerging and established artists work primarily in jewellery design,” states the gallery.

As befits a renowned drumdancer, Nuqingaq will perform at the opening reception tonight at 5 p.m.

The exhibition continues to July 13.