03/31/2026
Sonia Singh is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Sociology at York University, and is concurrently completing a placement position to earn a Cross-Disciplinary Certificate in Public History at York University . Within her placement, she is focusing on a public dialogue with Inuk artist Koomuatuk (Kuzy) Curley for the Art Gate VR exhibition, “Return to Ahqahizu,” which was curated by visual art students from York University. Through an immersive public tour of Inuit drawings, prints and carvings, Sonia aims to honour Inuit sovereignty and culture, while connecting non-Inuit and Inuit communities alongside Kuzy.
From Kinngait Nunavut, Koomuatuk (Kuzy) Curley now lives on Algonquin territory in the Ottawa Valley, where he carves daily to stay connected to his Inuit upbringing, earn a living that supports his growing family, and because he loves it. With twenty years of experience as a full-time artist, he continues to honour his grandparents and other family members that taught him by choosing to carve themes of Inuit culture yet with a fresh vision that is all his own. As an artist, he constantly challenges himself to represent his subjects naturalistically while creating striking and balanced compositions.
Koomuatuk has extensive experience working on large-scale sculptures and his public art/collaborative projects include Ahqahizu for the Pan Am Games (York University 2015), Ninguaq amma Nanuq (Canadian High Arctic Research Station 2017), Pitseolak Ashoona (Kinngait Nunavut 2021), Ravine Screenings (Toronto Biennial of Art 2022) and monumental Inuksuit commissions through Canadian Consulates in New Delhi India (2014), Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam (2023) and Shenzhen China (2025). He is currently a member of the research team for the Curating Indigenous Circumpolar Cultural Sovereignty grant with York University.
Join the public event by visiting → web.artgatevr.com via internet browser or VR Headset.
April 2nd, 2026 at 6pm est
canadafoundationforinnovation
