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This hand-carved Corey Bulpitt Haida art mask is an articulated Raven mask, which, when activated, creates movement, further bringing Raven's story to life through motion.
This one-of-a-kind artwork is activated by a series of hardware on the back of the mask. By pulling down on Raven's tail feathers, Raven's wings move up and down, mimicking Raven in action.
Raven, also known as Nankil’slas, meaning “He whose voice is obeyed," is one of Raven's names in Haida stories. Raven is regarded as a cultural hero in Haida history. He is a transformer figure who helped shape the world as we know it.
Raven is depicted here alongside his human form, a face and small hands or feet, which speak to Raven's transformative and supernatural qualities. Tones of black on this hand-tooled carving catch and reflect light like the natural shine and reflection in Raven's feathers. Antiqued-finished, this piece transports us to an older time where these histories and stories first originated.
Through his many deeds, Raven is often driven by curiosity, greed, and his own desires. He shaped much of the world during the time when only supernatural beings existed. Like high-ranking Haida individuals who receive multiple names throughout their lives, Raven also carries many names. He could transform into forms as small as a spruce needle or into various men and women, usually in pursuit of what he wanted. Many beings in these stories could shift between human and animal forms, hanging their skin or cloak up when they were at home.
About the artist: Corey Bulpitt, also known as Taakeit Aaya or "Gifted Carver" by the Haida of the Naikun Raven clan, was born in Prince Rupert, BC. He is the great-great-grandson of famed artist Charles Edenshaw (1839-1920) and prolific argillite carver Louis Collison (1881-1970).
Mentored by master carvers Christian White and the late Beau Dick, Corey is known for his ability to bring his creative ideas to life through eye-catching masks, street-style murals, installations, and works of art that challenge and disrupt. Corey's creativity feels unbounded as he experiments with new mask structures, movement, and materials that are both thought-provoking and surprising. His ability to execute quickly in creative and complex ways was perhaps influenced by some of his mentors, like the late Beau Dick, whose current works on exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery show an astounding degree of creativity and range, of 17 pieces created over a two-year period.
See more artwork by Corey Bulpitt, or explore our Haida mask art and Haida art.
