Tribute to Tivi Etok
It was with great sadness that the CALQ (Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec) team learned of the death of Inuit visual artist and storyteller Tivi Etok.
© Robert Fréchette
A pioneer in stonecut printing, illustrator, storyteller and conveyor of ancestral knowledge, Tivi Etok was the first Inuit artist to have his artwork become the subject of a monograph. Shaped by the struggle for the physical and cultural survival of his people, his body of work, with threads of his singular humour, illustrates the traditional Inuit way of life and how it is changing.
”A genuine national treasure, Tivi Etok was a unique illustrator and storyteller. Through his talent, work, and determination, he contributed to the recognition of a people for whom art is memory. His artwork, carefully preserved in prestigious museum collections around the world, will continue to tell his story to future generations. On behalf of the entire CALQ team, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his loved ones, his family and all those who were moved by his art.”
– Véronique Fontaine, President and Executive Director, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
In 2022, the CALQ inducted Tivi Etok into the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Québec culture.
© Arianne Bergeron / Alexandre Claude photographe
About the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec
Introduced in 2015 for the CALQ’s 20th anniversary, the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its creation this year. It is awarded to artists, writers, teachers, managers and patrons whose outstanding achievements contribute to Québec’s artistic and literary development. To date, more than 160 Quebec personalities have been awarded the insignia. Compagnes and Compagnons are recommended by the Conseil de l'Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec, a jury set up to evaluate the applications received following an annual call for candidates.
See the Compagnes and Compagnons of the Arts and Letters of Québec
About the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
The Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) invests in the imagination and celebrates the successes of those who create memorable works, shape Québec’s cultural identity, and make it shine. With a view to equitable, sustainable artistic development, the CALQ supports creation, experimentation, and production in the arts and literature in all regions of Québec and promotes dissemination in Québec, Canada, and abroad.
Every year, the CALQ financially supports more than 1,800 artists' projects and 900 non-profit arts organizations, contributing to the expression of a vibrant culture accessible across Québec. It encourages landmark artistic and literary works that generate pride among citizens, nourish our culture, and above all, create a timeless imprint.