Mother and Child 2005

Curator: Let's turn our attention to Norval Morrisseau’s painting, “Mother and Child,” created in 2005 using acrylic paint. I’m drawn to the artist's line work in portraying this pairing. What catches your eye about it? Editor: Well, immediately, I feel a vibrant energy. The psychedelic palette and geometric shapes dance around the central figures, almost vibrating with connection. It's like seeing a shared dream. Curator: Interesting that you describe it as a dream. Morrisseau, an Indigenous Canadian artist of Ojibwe heritage, was deeply concerned with conveying traditional stories and spiritual visions through his paintings. The heavy reliance on the graphic strength of the outlines might be related to traditional Woodland School art. The use of acrylic reflects changes in available materials. Editor: I love thinking about how the story comes through the making. I mean, look at how their heads are turned, how their eyes are open wide; it makes me wonder about their exchange and the intensity between them. Then all of these geometric figures—are they also sharing a visual language? I sense a bond that goes beyond just kinship. Curator: Absolutely. Morrisseau challenged and transformed pre-existing artistic traditions. The brilliant colors were often grounded in his personal understanding of Anishinaabe spirituality. He also blurred the line between art and craft by celebrating line work normally reserved for creating functional forms. Editor: It definitely vibrates with this visual code you're referring to. Thinking about art as cultural memory is essential for decolonizing perception and practice, no? As someone said: art is therapy. It has a clear effect in our mind and makes us dream together. It's like looking into a portal of something bigger. I find this painting powerful in a very gentle way. Curator: I concur. “Mother and Child” acts as a bridge – a contemporary piece echoing traditional themes while boldly engaging with current artistic conventions. It truly stands as a testament to transformation. Editor: Beautifully said! It leaves me wondering what shared universes exist out there in this realm of creative connection, echoing their ancient embrace, suspended forever in paint and light.