The work of George Arlook, a second-generation sculptor from the Kivalliq region, indicates a more contemporary treatment of the minimalist style found in this area. The head of the bird is recognisable, but without this the sculpture would seem totally abstract – a sinuous form seen in the round with hash marks in various areas. This style is typical of the artist, who enjoyed incorporating these very contemporary forms within sculptures of animals, humans, and birds. It is an individual approach but one that grew out of the traditional regional style.

Kivalliq Region:
The Kivalliq region is on the west side of Hudson’s Bay and encompasses Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), Arviat and Rankin Inlet all of which developed strong artist communities. The distinct regional style, very different from the Baffin Region, is immediately apparent. The local stone is basalt, a dark hard stone which is both difficult to carve and impossible to polish. The artists in these areas therefore developed a minimal style, defining form more by outline and silhouette rather than fine detail. Artists in coastal settlements who had little local stone, such as Coral Harbour, worked with ivory, antler and whalebone.