PROVENANCE
Douglas Reynolds Gallery, Vancouver
Peter and Joanne Brown Collection, Vancouver, acquired from the above in 2009

LITERATURE
Robert Davidson: "A Voice from the Inside," Derek Simpkins Gallery of Tribal Art, 1992, page 8

Robert Davidson grew up in the Haida village of Old Massett on Haida Gwaii and went on to become one of Canada’s most prominent First Nations artists. His great-grandfather was renowned artist Charles Edenshaw, and he was steeped in Haida art at a young age. In 1969, at only 22, Davidson carved the totem Bear Mother Pole in Massett, the first pole to be raised on Haida Gwaii in 80 years.

At the heart of Haida art are the concepts of transformation and supernatural power, and this superb sculpture embodies this in an entirely modern way. Formally, the work features Haida formline and the primary design elements seen in traditional Haida art—the ovoid, U-form and tri-neg—streamlined and simplified. Each line contains its own tension, and the negative space, both around and within the sculpture, is as important as the positive. Davidson stated, “Art is a gift from the spirit world,” and the eye of this supernatural being vibrates out to us from this powerful yet elegant sculpture.

The National Gallery of Canada has in its collection a large version of this sculpture also entitled Supernatural Eye.

This work is number 4 from an edition of 5.

Please note: the base of this work measures 5 x 35 1/2 x 23 1/4 inches.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars