Paul Malliki (Inuit, Repulse Bay)
Grazing Caribou c 2002
Stone, Antler
19 x 8.5"
Many of Paul Malliki's caribou are sculpted with dark stone and a smooth surface, while his bears are often carved with textured fur and solid white stone. This example is a little different. It was carved using Tyndall stone - a historic Canadian mineral used for buildings including the NGC. Tyndall is a cream coloured limestone with fossilized deposits that have channelled through into a matrix. Malliki cleverly works the deposit matrix into a pattern that mimics high arctic caribou camouflaging with polar landscapes. He also adds a soft texture by delineating fine fur throughout the surface without polishing. The antlers are worked with an equal amount of finesse. Scaled beautifully from a full rack, the roundness and branching are made possible by a network of small joints.
Grazing Caribou is a fabulous study of the animal in stone - rendered with enough realism to imagine the animal foraging in front of us. The grazing form draws also attention to the majestic antlers - which are impressive works of art on their own.
