Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 19/99) - In a land far, far away, four Northern graphic artists are helping to represent their country.

The work of Kenojuak Ashevak, Patrick Akovak, Lucy Qinnuayuak and Flossie Pappidluk grace the walls of the Canadian Embassy in Oslo, Norway -- a fellow country of the North.

This Oslo collection is but a small reflection of the art owned by the Government of Canada and administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"There are 5,300 pieces of art stored in a warehouse," explains Foreign Affairs spokesperson Patrick Riel.

Riel adds that there is a fine arts committee -- comprised of people with a background in the arts -- that chooses which pieces will go to which embassy.

Riel lists the criteria for choosing the pieces:

"Each of those pieces in the collections have been selected meticulously to make sure it respects some interior decorations aspects or rules; it has to fit in the ethnic composition of the host country; and also it has to represent a vast array of Canadian artists in all its diversity. Of course, it plays a significant role in the government's support of the arts."

Kenojuak Ashevak, born at the South Baffin camp known as Ikirisaq, has achieved great renown for her work. Most recently, her design was featured on a Canadian coin.

Ashevak's list of commissions and exhibits seems endless and she has been featured in a National Film Board film and has been honoured with the Order of Canada. Her work has also been featured on two Canadian stamps.

Also hanging on the embassy's walls are Caribou Run by the late Patrick Akovak of Holman Island and Chasing Geese by the late Lucy Qinnuayuak.

According to the embassy's brochure, the highly celebrated Akovak -- who was also known as Akourak -- produced a number of drawings, prints and sculptures.

Qinnuayuak's work, explains the brochure, was filled with enchanting birds, multi-coloured flowers, happy mothers and children, in bright cheerful colours. She was from Cape Dorset.

Finally, Loons by Flossie Pappidluk -- who is originally from Prince Albert Sound -- hangs in the embassy.

These pieces are joined by the works of eight other Canadian artists including Blair Sharpe of Montreal, Jan Boning of Winnipeg and Kenneth Lochhead of Ottawa.

In answer to the question about how these pieces by these four Inuit artists fit into Norway's cultural backdrop, Riel notes:

"In Oslo, they do have a good community of Aboriginal people in their North -- the Sami people. In this way, it's a Northern country as well."

Riel also emphasizes that these four prints enhance the diversity of the collection.

"These artists are known in the world and they receive invitations from around the world to come to festivals in Europe and everywhere," says Riel, who adds that it's important for Canadians to be aware of the world's esteem for our artists.

"This collection is to promote an awareness of Canadian visual art and artists. As well, it's there to enhance the interior design of Canadian missions. It has to, of course, communicate an image of Canada in Canadian missions."