As a Bird

As a Bird is open to discovery and standing tall to the sky.

Two figures, two artists, Saimaiyu Akesuk’s Rippling Birds and Sparkling Bird here intersected by Alex Fischer.

Saimaiyu’s confident drawings with bold and dynamic simplicity are rendered with soft tenderness and often a touch of whimsy. Alex’s fashioning of Saimaiyu’s characters into models here amplifies their presence.

A presence of standing being sensitive to the waves and stars. A proud character.

Beijing RED brings together Canadian, Inuk, and Chinese narratives through a curated selection of works that explore colour, form, and cultural storytelling. Artist Ho Kan, from Taipei, offers his series Geometric Calligraphy, which abstracts Chinese characters into vibrant “spiritual arrangements” of space, points, and circles, rendered in deep, magnetic tones.

Complementing these pieces are works by Inuk artists Meelia Kelly and Saimaiyu Akesuk. Kelly, a foundational member of Kinngait Studios, captures Arctic fauna in bold abstractions, reflecting her roots in a community that once lived nomadically. In contrast, Akesuk’s contemporary approach often features playful interpretations of polar bears and birds, emphasizing her unique style developed under the mentorship of Kinngait elders. The hybrid sculpture As a Bird stands as a transformative symbol of Inuk storytelling, combining mythology with personal expression. Together, these works celebrate the interplay of tradition and innovation, with colour and form serving as bridges between Chinese, Inuk, and Canadian stories.