‘We are happy people’: Artist chosen to design coin puts joy on display

Aija Komangapik says she hopes a piece of her art featured on a new $20 silver coin showcases the joyful and funny side of Inuit life.

The coin, recently issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, features an Inuk mother who represents Nunavut. She’s dancing in the midnight sun with a large amauti spread out behind her, filled with smaller people who represent Nunavummiut.

The mint released the coin to commemorate Nunavut’s 25th anniversary.

The $20 denomination silver coin designed by Aija Komangapik is available now on the Royal Canadian Mint’s official website for $109.95 CAD (Image courtesy the Royal Canadian Mint)

“The small figures are dancing to [the mother’s] heartbeat,” said Komangapik, describing it as like when a baby is in an amauti and becomes soothed by the beat of its mother’s heart.

Komangapik is originally from Iqaluit but moved to Quebec when she was 12 to live with her father. She is now based in Ottawa, where she works at the Isaruit Inuit Arts Centre.

The 25-year-old grew up surrounded by art as a child. Her father is an artist and her mother is a former dancer. Komangapik said being surrounded by creativity was integral to the person she grew up to become.

She said she prefers to create whimsical art because often the most popular art and myths among non-Inuit are stark and dark, dealing with themes of adventure.

“The funny ones I don’t hear as much outside of Inuit spaces,” she said.

“So I want to say, ‘Oh look, we are having fun, we are happy people.'”

The artist described Inuit as a “complete” people who understand sorrow and joy as well. She said her favourite traditional art depicts things like children laughing or people doing string games.

“These are all very fun,” Komangapik said. “But the ones that usually get the most media attention … are often the most melancholic.”

This isn’t the first time she has helped celebrate a Nunavut milestone. She and her mother were chosen for a photoshoot commemorating the 10th anniversary of the territory, when Komangapik was 10 years old.

She said she can’t remember for sure what the photoshoot was for, but the pair modelled for a photo in front of some icebergs.

“I think it was titled something like, ‘Nunavut’s turning 10 and so am I!’” she said.

Now Komangapik is working on a project that integrates seal products into her art, deviating from earlier work that involved traditional and digital painting. She said she wants to focus more on natural products that are resourced in an ethical way.

“I’m very excited for the next coming years,” she said.

“I hope that the people who live in Nunavut know that even though I haven’t lived there for a while, I really appreciate my community.”