Yua: Henri Matisse and the Inner Arctic Spirit

Yua is a Yup’ik word that represents the spiritual interconnectedness of all living things and is essential to maintaining balance and order in the Arctic way of life. It relates to popular notions of reincarnation. The Yup’ik are Native Alaskans, and their name translates to “the Real People.”

Yua: Henri Matisse and the Inner Arctic Spirit explores the surprising and little-known story of how Inuit people and culture inspired one of the 20th century’s most influential artists, Henri Matisse. The exhibition includes works by Matisse that have not been publicly shown in the United States, and reunites dozens of stunning Yup’ik (Native Alaskan) mask sets that have been separated for more than a century.

Yua: Henri Matisse and the Inner Arctic Spirit features original artwork by Henri Matisse, Yup’ik masks, cultural objects, photographs, film, and ephemera, exploring the shared creative impulses that transcend time and culture by examining the unexpected connection between the Great Master and the people of the Arctic.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.

Henri Matisse, White Mask on Black Background (Masque blank sur fond noir) ©2018 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York