Beau Dick Kwakwaka’wakw, Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw First Nation, 1955-2017
Yo'lakwame, 1998
Red cedar, acrylic, horsehair
10 1/2 x 13 x 3 inches
26.7 x 33 x 7.6 cm
26.7 x 33 x 7.6 cm
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Further images
Yo’lakwame was a high-ranking young man next in line for the chieftainship of his village who fell into the Undersea World where he met Kumagwe, the chief. In an attempt...
Yo’lakwame was a high-ranking young man next in line for the chieftainship of his village who fell into the Undersea World where he met Kumagwe, the chief. In an attempt to dissuade Yo'lakwame from leaving the Undersea World, Kumugwe bestowed powerful, supernatural gifts upon him, giving him the ability to transform into any being, supernatural or otherwise. Despite these gifts, Yo'lakwame still desired to return home. To do so, he had to travel through a portal via the Sky World. Yo’lakwame fell from the sky, transforming over and over again into all various beings, and landed as a multi-beaked, supernatural Raven. This begins the Kwakwaka’wakw Winter Ceremony, where the masks of all the beings Yo’lakwame is able to transform into come out one by one.
Exhibitions
Native American Art Now, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, NY, Sept 7 - Oct 7, 2023. Curated by Leesa Fanning.
Beau Dick: Walas Gwa'yam / Big, Great Whale, Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York, NY, April 12 - May 11, 2024