Lot 795

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

David Ruben Piqtoukun's "The Hunter's Dreams" original Brazillian soapstone sculpture. This carving is a museum quality piece; a true masterpiece.
AboriginalArtwork. Artist's Statement

I was born in Paulatuk, Northwest Territories in 1950, to my parents Billy and Bertha Ruben. My earliest memories of our family are of a small nomadic group; hunting and fishing for subsistence along the Arctic coastline, inland rivers and lake areas. These early recollections of living in a nomadic and semi-primitive existence have instilled within me a deep and lasting love for the raw and rugged beauty of land and nature, which is often reflected in my work.

I was removed from these familiar surroundings at about age 5, to attend residential school where I experienced a tumultuous upheaval of identity. This forced change, brought into questions who I am and what was the purpose of my existence without my original identity or direction. In spite of this upheaval, I have pursued life and existence, as did my parents and ancestors, by tapping into my instincts to survive by trial and error. "One day at a time survival instincts" has been my mantra for moving forward and my method for advancing my educational experience. I have live south of the Northwest Territories since the age of 18.

Since 1972 the course of my stone-carving and sculpture profession has been shaped and re-shaped many times over. I have been fortunate to be able to practice and hone my skills everyday; this has enabled me to pursue ideas exceeding the initial scope and scale of my earlier works. Now, I enjoy working with all manner of materials and exploring new dimensions of conceptualization.

In 1975, Dr. Allen Gonor of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, persuaded me to start collecting traditional stories from parents and elders. From these oral traditions, my Inuit roots began to re-establish themselves. From the moment I began to absorb my culture, the direction of my work took an immense leap into Inuit mythology. Incorporating new and old stories into my stonework, conveys my interpretation and acknowledgement of my Inuit ancestry. Through this evolution, I have created effective methods of interpreting this traditional mythology, utilizing my artwork as sources of learning and teaching. My creative process is now animated, inspired and deeply rooted within me. These simple and beautiful stories are embedded in the work I continually create. The conception, planning and execution of sculpting has become a ritual for me; one that reinforces my abstract imagination with each new project and challenge.

I have been fortunate to travel extensively and experience first hand, new people, traditions and cultures in Canada and throughout the world. I have traveled a great distance from the "Little Eskimo Kid" who was more comfortable running about bare-footed and snotty nosed. From my travels and dialogue with distant peoples I am always learning and expanding my creative imagination for present and future endeavours. I continually explore new materials, forms and colours, expanding into much larger conceptual installations in metal, stone, light and water. I have developed innovative fabrication methods that require a variety of equipment and a wide range of specialists to assist me.


This piece has been certified genuine and authentic, and has been appraised at $115,000 CAN.

This lot must be paid for by way of Wire Transfer or E-Transfer.

    Dimensions:

  • 11" x 11" x 29 1/2" tall.
  • Artist Name:
  • David Ruben Piqtoukun
  • Medium:
  • Stone

Accepted Forms of Payment:

COD (cash on delivery), MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Other, Paypal, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipping
All fees and costs associated with shipping are separate from the hammer price (winning bid), buyer's premium and sales taxes.
Shipping and insurance can be arranged through our preferred courier, PakShip, at 905-470-6874. All shipping and handling charges will be billed through the courier. Local pickup is also available within 5 business days of payment in full. Alternatively, winning bidders can arrange their own shipping if cleared by Oakwood Auctions.
The winning bidder is responsible for understanding the import fees and import laws of their respective province/state/country. It is also the bidder's responsibility to obtain any and all import documentation (import/export licenses, certificates or other documentation) prior to bidding. Oakwood Auctions will not be responsible for bids placed on an item which is restricted in the aforementioned bidder's country. In such cases, the winning bidder will still be responsible for payment within 2 business days of receiving the invoice. Oakwood Auctions is more than happy to help bidders obtain an estimate on duties and taxes but these are just estimates; we cannot guarantee nor be held liable for the accuracy of said estimates.
Oakwood Auctions is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen merchandise while in transit.
Oakwood Auctions reserves the right to ship parcels via our own in-house shipping methods, based on actual weight or dimensional weight (whichever is greater).
If your item has not been shipped or picked up within 5 business days of the auction conclusion, a storage fee will be charged per item at a rate of $15.00 USD per diem.

August 16, 2020 11:00 AM EDT
Stouffville, ON, CA

Oakwood Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $5
$100 $299 $10
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $49,999 $500
$50,000 $99,999 $1,000
$100,000 $999,999 $5,000
$1,000,000 + $10,000