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Greenland

TWO TUPILAKS

ivory

c. 1960s

Inuit carving of a tupilaq (spirit), from Argnagssalik, East Greenland, 1931–32. National Museum of Denmark.

In Greenlandic Inuit religion, a tupilaq (tupilak, tupilait, or ᑐᐱᓚᒃ in Inuktitut syllabics) was an avenging monster fabricated by a practitioner of witchcraft or shamanism by using various objects such as animal parts (bone, skin, hair, sinew, etc.) and even parts taken from the corpses of children. The creature was given life by ritualistic chants. It was then placed into the sea to seek and destroy a specific enemy.

The use of a tupilaq was considered risky, as if it was sent to destroy someone who had greater magical powers than the one who had formed it, it could be sent back to kill its maker instead, although the maker of the tupilaq could escape by public confession of their deed.

Because tupilaq were made in secret, in isolated places and from perishable materials, none have been preserved. Early European visitors to Greenland, fascinated by the native legend, were eager to see what tupilaq looked like, so the Inuit began to carve representations of them out of sperm whale teeth.

Today, tupilaq of many different shapes and sizes are carved from various materials such as narwhal and walrus tusk, wood and reindeer antler. They are an important part of Greenlandic Inuit art, and are highly prized as collectibles.

#inuit art #tupilait #tupilaq #tupilak #demons #spirits #inuit religion #carving

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Greenland "Tupilak" spirit figure, British Museum.

#Tupilak #Greenland #spirit figure #art #sculpture #indigenous

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Blown glass, 3D printed plastic & ceramics 2017

#3d printing #christopher kelsall #christopher kelsall art #tupilak #claw feet #roman glass #cache #decanter #pet plastic #water bottle #vase stand

A tupilaq is a creature from Inuit folklore, made by a shaman from parts of dead animals, or sometimes children, as a tool of revenge.

After being formed from bones, skin and hair, a tupilaq is released into the sea to track down its target. It is said that if the intended victim possesses stronger magical powers than the tupilaq’s creator, it can be sent back to kill the one who made it.

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