Family 2005

Curator: Right now, we’re standing in front of "Family" by Norval Morrisseau, painted in 2005, using acrylic. The scene bursts with vibrant colours and dynamic forms – a really powerful visual statement! Editor: Wow, powerful is the word! It's so arresting—that stark blue background makes those neon-tinged figures really jump out. There's almost an electric feel to it. What’s your immediate sense? Curator: It’s funny, it evokes this feeling of both closeness and, well, spiritual expansiveness. The figures seem to be contained yet also connected to a larger network through those vibrant internal lines, very distinctive from Morrisseau’s Woodland School style! I also wonder what a small bird between the adults means. Editor: Birds carry so much symbolic weight across cultures! They're messengers, linking the earthly and spiritual realms. Here, maybe the bird represents communication or connection between family members. The stylized depiction is especially striking. Notice the simplified shapes – how Morrisseau captures complex emotions and relationships with such clarity. It gives the feeling of Pop Art as a way to create work on themes like heritage or spirituality! Curator: Definitely. He boils down the family to interconnected forms, with these bright, almost feverish colours and that simple shape language really focusing on universal themes. We have the parents that act like shelters, their intense eyes expressing concern, protection... It strikes me as very immediate. Editor: I agree, the directness is key. He is speaking a visual language about roots and lineage. The abstract patterns within the figures are just gorgeous, creating a feeling of internal energy, like these figures are brimming with something… Curator: Almost like the painting itself is a living organism... What's curious is the sense of both individuality, with the clear shapes making it unique, and collectivity, in the sharing of shapes and meanings. Editor: It encapsulates something very human. A family defined through bold patterns, shared energy and ancient visual themes that speaks to both cultural identity and also human unity. Curator: Indeed, a very personal view that speaks volumes to a wider humanity.