akunnirun kuupak stems from a trip back to Inuvik, part of Kablusiak’s ancestral territory, in the summer of 2018 as part of the TD North/South Exchange residency program. The residency trip marks the first time Kablusiak returned to the area as an adult. During the residency period, Kablusiak had the chance to remount their performative ghost series, which they have been working with over the past several years. The ghost serves as a foil for understanding their identity as an urban Inuk who is part of the growing Inuit diaspora. In bringing the ghost performance to Inuvik after a long absence and presenting the culmination of this work in Edmonton, Kablusiak reconnects to an important part of their being while simultaneously creating a presence for Inuit wherever they may be.
Organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta. Curated by Jessie Ray Short. Presented by Capital Powered Art, an exhibition series sponsored by Capital Power Corporation.
Since the opening of the new AGA in January 2010, the Capital Power Corporation has been the major sponsor of exhibitions and programs at the Art Gallery of Alberta. Through the “Capital Powered Art” program, Capital Power has helped present over 30 unique exhibitions at the AGA.
In 2019, as part of their commitment to innovation and creativity, Capital Power is supporting the presentation of new works by Alberta contemporary artists in Manning Hall, in addition to major exhibitions throughout the AGA.