Giant Moose 1995

Norval Morrisseau created this painting, Giant Moose, with acrylic on canvas. The painting feels like a dreamscape in vibrant oranges, yellows, blues and greens. I imagine Morrisseau standing before the canvas, layering color upon color, building up the shapes of the moose and its surroundings from his imagination. I’m thinking about his process, how the physical act of applying paint becomes a way of seeing and understanding the world. The orange moose contains a circle of fish, while another group spills out onto the green land below. The fish, rendered in bright purples, reds, and greens, contrast with the orange of the moose’s body. The painting hums with a spiritual energy, with the moose as a symbol of strength and connection to the natural world. Morrisseau’s style is so distinctive, but like all artists he’s in conversation with those who came before and those who will follow. Painting is a conversation, a way of thinking aloud with color and form. It’s not about answers, but about exploring the questions and seeing where they lead.