Robert Davidson is one of Canada’s most respected and important contemporary visual artists. A Northwest Coast native of Haida and Tlingit Descent, he is a master carver of totem poles and masks and works in a variety of other media as a printmaker, painter and jeweler. He is best known as an impeccable craftsman whose creative and personal interpretation of traditional Haida form is unparalleled. His distinctive style is appreciated by the Haida community and contemporary arts scholars alike, with many of his works considered post-modern masterpieces. His work is sought by collectors internationally.
Davidson’s passion to revive and perpetuate a variety of forms of Haida cultural expression, including song, dance and ceremony, has fueled his remarkable output throughout the years. He has been responsible among other things for carving and raising the first totem pole in his hometown of Massett in nearly 90 years when he was just 22 years old. His inspiration was to give his elders a chance to celebrate in a way they had not been able to in their lifetimes.
Drums
“Robert’s one of the few people capable of bringing the art up to the present. With the amount of knowledge he has, he can see what was beyond one hundred years ago. He is bringing
the art beyond where it stopped.”
Reg Davidson, Haida Artist, Interview with Ian Thom July 1992, from the book: Robert Davidson Eagle of the Dawn. Pg 12
Masks
“Robert Davidson’s inventive ceremonialism, his drive to more deeply understand his traditions and his language, his sensitivity to his patrons, his willingness to participate as an artist in his community as well as in the international arena and his continual search for the “soul” he saw in the art of his Haida elders all contribute to his compelling and numerous masterpieces. The optimistic smile of a mask, complementing a strength that inspires a profound and irresistible awe, can stand as a symbol of this contemporary master.”
Excerpt of an essay by Aldona Jonaitis, professor of anthropology and director of the museum at the University of Alaska from the book: Robert Davidson, Eagle of the Dawn by Ian Thom. Pg 23
