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CUD joins with McGill University to showcase Canadian Inuit art in Dubai

Canadian University Dubai (CUD) has come together with Canada’s McGill University to stage an exhibition showcasing traditional Inuit art. The opening of the exposition, entitled, ‘Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Art, Architecture, and Traditional Knowledge’, was hosted at CUD’s City Walk campus in the presence of Jean-Philippe Linteau, Consul General of Canada in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and McGill alumnus; Christopher Manfredi, provost and vice principal academic of McGill University; and prof Karim Chelli, president and vice chancellor of Canadian University Dubai.

Curated by Isabelle Laurier of EVOQ Architecture, the exhibition provides guests with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Inuit art and culture, and how it was successfully integrated into the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS). The event brings together the CUD community, McGill alumni, regional partners, and government representatives, as part of McGill University’s Third Century Celebrations in Dubai.

The imagery on display at the exhibition provides guests with an insight into how the design of CHARS was developed as a model construct to bridge the scientific and artistic worlds. The exposition also showcases the significance of CHARS in Canada’s commitment to a sustainable research presence in the Arctic, ahead of the planned Arctic Circle Abu Dhabi Forum, organised in association with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Opening the event, CUD’s prof Chelli said, “As an educational institution that has welcomed students from 127 nationalities, in the center of one of the greatest international cities in the world, we are proud to represent the shared values of diversity and multiculturalism that both Dubai and Canada represent. It is our honor to host this celebration of indigenous talent, which demonstrates the power and significance of art in uniting cultures.”

Introducing the works at CUD, Laurier said, “This exhibition is the result of a competition that invited Inuit artists from across Canada to submit works that would be integrated into the very fabric of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station. The aim was to reinforce the expression of Inuit culture and to give the artists the visibility they have long deserved.”

McGill University’s Christopher Manfredi said, “This exhibition tells three distinct stories of Canada — the country’s world-class research capability, the significance and creativity of indigenous art, and the capacity to construct sophisticated facilities in extreme conditions. Art is an exceptional tool for empowerment and reconciliation, and I hope everyone will be inspired by this exposition and the opportunity to explore indigenous culture.”

Featuring the works of some of Canada’s top Inuit artists, the collection is a travelling exhibition that aims to showcase the talent of indigenous peoples and how their cultural influences can be embedded in the advancement of science and technology. The exhibits have already been displayed in front of heads of state, ministers, and senior representatives of the science and business communities at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik.

The exhibition is open to the public until March 20 at CUD City Walk Campus.