Winnipeg Art Gallery Debuts New Venue Dedicated to Inuit Art
Qaumajuq, which means "bright", it's the name in Inuktitut with which the luminous Inuit art center of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG), located in the canadian city of the same name.
Inaugurated last March 27 and designed by the Michael Maltzan Architecture studio, the new building houses the celebrated collection of contemporary Inuit art of the gallery, as well as providing new facilities to expand the academic research, studio art and educational programs.
The project, which has transformed the south face of the WAG , has consisted of addition of 3,344 square meters and in the renovation of another 1,486 square meters of the existing building, to which the architect Gustavo da Roza gave life in 1971.
Qaumajuq means "bright" in Inuktitut
During the conceptual design phase of Qaumajuq, the team that worked on the project had the opportunity to soak up inuit culture , to meet its people and be inspired by their landscapes thanks to a necessary crossing to the north.
The result has been a construction based on the ephemeral qualities of Nordic environments and celebrates historic and contemporary Inuit art and culture.
New galleries, classrooms, art studios, an interactive theater, research areas, a shop on the main floor and a cafeteria , in addition to a glass art storage chamber, are the rooms that Qaumajuq has.
the wavy Bethel white granite facade - sourced from a quarry in Bethel, Vermont - rises above the ground to create the Qaumajuq lobby.
The outside, two monumental stone sculptures , work of Inuit artists Goota Ashoona and Abraham Anghik Ruben, they welcome visitors.
As for the interior design, has opted for minimalism : so as not to detract from the exposed pieces, the soils of the museum have been made with polished concrete and the walls have been painted white.
Natural light invades the space
Secondly, the skylights that dot the ceiling they flood the museum with natural light, creating a warm illumination that is projected on the exhibited works, see Nēhiyaw, the red mural that adorns the entrance , work of local artist Peter Thomas.
In the hall, the Visible Vault of glass and chrome has become a display case where they rest the 4,500 Inuit sculptures of the WAG. Its sinuous and undulating curve allows visitors walk around collection , but also immerse yourself in it.
Visible Vault
The cafeteria and reading room are located next to the lobby and offer educational and research spaces near the Visible Vault.
The glass floors at the north end of the vault allow visitors to peek into the lower storage spaces, experiencing the fascinating sensation of found on an art deposit.
In turn, meeting places, such as the library and studies, feature simple, durable materials, such as carpet and vinyl.
As for the rooms, the spacious and bright Main Gallery, named Qilak -which means sky in Inuktitut- is located on the third level of the building, offering 743 square meters of open and flexible exhibition space dedicated to the display of Inuit art.
This voluminous space has been conceived to reflect the natural environments of North America : the monumental and sculptural walls evoke the huge landforms that form the backdrop for many inuit peoples.
The interior design respects the protagonism of the exhibited pieces
For its part, the Focus Gallery, located on the rooftop and open to the Main Gallery, it will honor the Inuit and other indigenous peoples of the North, providing an open space for exhibitions, public performances, private celebrations or, why not, for meditation.
On the fourth floor mezzanine, overlooking the Main Inuit Gallery, is the Mezzanine Gallery, named Giizhig/Kisik, which means “heaven”. Their intimate aura and his elevated position They are ideal for special exhibitions as well as for events and ceremonies.
Baptized with the name of Pimâtisiwin , a Cree/Ojibway phrase meaning "the act of living" a space of lower height has been designed for the projection of videos, movies or shows that require a more intimate and light-sensitive environment.
Lastly, the art education studios and classrooms they are concentrated in the attic of the WAG, which allows students direct access to the large terrace. These new educational spaces include a lobby, a clay studio, a kiln room and two outside studios for summer and winter activities, such as sculpture in stone and ice.
The museum will also have multipurpose rooms
Furthermore, Qaumajuq has been raised under a sustainable philosophy: the museum is part of Manitoba Green Building Program and aims to achieve Power Smart designation and LEED V4 certification design and construction of buildings.