Inuit Public Art at Onsite Gallery

The mural Maliina (2024) beautifully weaves together different, yet impactful versions of the Inuit circumpolar origin story of the sun and the moon. All versions share the same pivotal moment whereby Maliina rubs soot on her hands, and in the morning light, discovers the shocking truth / evidence—that the one she had shared the night with was her brother, the moon. This revelation sparks an eternal chase across the sky, with sun and moon pursuing each other endlessly, shaping day and night.

To honor the Seqineq, Lynge wanted to place Maliina (the Sun) at the heart of this piece, celebrating her as a powerful, central figure. Coco says, “Through this mural, I hope to capture the strength, beauty, and complexity of Maliina's journey, and honor the myth’s deep resonance across generations.”

Lynge also folds into the mural unique details of the telling of the legend, hinting the moon was lured into a kayak, only to be cast into the water. In another, a loon licks the moon’s face and eyes, restoring his sight.

Coco Apunnguaq Lynge is a multidisciplinary artist working across art and design (graphic, character concept, fashion, and book illustration). Born in Greenland and raised in Denmark, Coco was compelled to access her Greenlandic roots throughout her life—a longing that resonates deeply in her creative practice. Her personal work is inspired by exploring the cultural richness of Inuit heritage and identity that offers a strong visual connection to her cultural background.

Coco is a graduate of The Animation Workshop in Denmark and has continued her studies in multimedia and fashion design. Coco's work has gained international visibility, with her illustrations featured in books published in Denmark, Greenland, Iceland, France, and Canada. Her talent in character design has also led her to collaborate on several AAA video games and illustrate for board games.

Her achievements are particularly celebrated in Greenland, where her art has been printed on stamps, becoming a symbol of cultural pride. In collaboration with Maria Kreutzmann, Coco co-illustrated Mythical Monsters of Greenland, which won a gold medal at the IP Awards—a testament to her storytelling prowess and artistic vision.

In partnership with the Inuit Art Foundation, Onsite Gallery presents Up Front, a series of commissioned digital murals by Inuit artists. Onsite Gallery recognizes the important contributions of the Inuit art sector and is pleased to work with the IAF to support Inuit art and artists in the public realm.

Up Front: Inuit Public Art @ Onsite Gallery is made possible with the support from the City of Toronto’s Indigenous Arts and Culture Partnership Fund, and the Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts.