Canada House Window Displays – Inspired by Canada’s Inuit and First Nations
Visitors to Canada House, including the Canada Gallery, might want to take a moment to enjoy our new display windows on Pall Mall East.
Fashion students from Kingston University were asked to look to Canada’s Inuit and First Nations for inspiration as they created textile designs using recycled materials. Led by sustainable artist Dr Noki, the students also worked with Canadian-born fashion designer Todd Lynn to create pieces that reflect the Inuit and First Nation tradition of respect for their prey, using every part of the creatures they hunt.
Each creation has a name underlining their human-like qualities. Here is a brief description of the inspiration behind each piece.
INUTUUJUQ by Bevan Dainton and Hannah Gilbert
Inutuujuq translates from Inuktitut as ‘isolated’ and ‘alone’ – fitting for a sculpture of a ‘solo traveller’. The snowboard brings an element of modernity to the piece as Inutuujuq is a hybrid of old and new, a time traveller in essence, adapting to its era and environment.
ZAVITE TEITS by Živa Červek and Rhys John
An image of a Canadian hunter is at the heart of this piece, with the overall silhouette reflecting not just the hunter, but the larger distorted image of hunters carrying or dragging their prey. Unwanted clothing, accessories or home furnishings were used to create a layered figure, who changed shape as the piece progressed, emerging as the complicated shape of an animal.
OUTLINE by Isabella Tan and Katie Willan
Images from Canada’s northwest, the shapes and colours of Totems and old hockey gear inspired this piece, which reinforced the importance of ‘up-cycling’ and finding new uses for old items. This sculpture conveys the positivity and enjoyment found through undertaking this project and a sense of hope for improved sustainability in the future of the fashion industry.
WALT by Chloe Anderson and Katie Carter
The Inuit tell stories about creatures called Qallupilluk with long nails to snatch children who wander too close to the sea and Ljiraat, an animal shape shifter, which influenced this piece. The artists hunted charity shops for pieces that reflected the textures of animals and re-worked them to build their sculpture.
Thank you to Kingston University’s Acting Vice-Chancellor Steven Spier and the project team led by Head of Fashion Elinor Renfrew.
Primary navigation
- Discover Canada
- Bilateral Relations
- Our Office
- For Canadians
- Transparency
