82 ELLECANADA.COM
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WHEN KABLUSIAK FOUND out that they were one of four people shortlisted for the Sobey
Art Award—the country’s pre-eminent prize for emerging contemporary artists—they
were in Stockholm for a group show with others who had been up for the award in
previous years. “It was really great universal timing,” says Kablusiak. Currently based
in Mohkínstsis—the Blackfoot name for Calgary—the 26-year-old Inuvialuk artist and
curator uses humour to explore the Inuit diaspora through a variety of media, from
soapstone carving to animation. Like all of us scrolling on our phones, the artist looks to
pop culture and social media (their favourite Instagram account is @decolonial.meme.
queens) for inspiration, especially around conversations on modern Indigeneity. “We
have a shared history of colonialism, but it differs in every part of Canada, and it’s funny
to find a common ground and be able to laugh through stuff that’s really heavy,” they
say. Between an upcoming residency at the Yukon School of Visual Arts and co-curating
the inaugural exhibit at Winnipeg’s forthcoming Inuit Art Centre, Kablusiak is making
strides in their career and taking along the most important lessons they’ve learned so
far. “It’s okay to know what your limits are, and it’s really important to prioritize your
mental health—and you,” they say. “Without you, there’s nobody to make the art.” EN
KABLUSIAK
Kablusiak pictured in NorthMart, 2018