Norval Morrisseau
On the other hand…this story about closing down Amanda PL’s exhibit sent me to Google images to check out Norval Morrisseau, and holy shit. Maybe the objectors were just pissed off because her art is not as good. But we don’t get to shut down exhibits just because they’re not good enough! We kind of have to let that objection take care of itself. Painting of cats on velvet can get exhibits; there’s nothing we can do about it.
But anyway: Morrisseau is breathtaking, and I hadn’t heard of him before.
Seriously: I recommend going to Google Images to see what turns up.
Looks at one…
Looks at the other…
Looks at one…
Looks at the other…
Okay, I would say that the charge of (lazy!!) appropriation on the part of Amanda PL is entirely, ha ha, appropriate. And, assuming Morrisseau’s work predates, PL’s, I might use the term, “blatant rip-off”.
So, PL’s work is clearly derivative of the indigenous style and Morrisseau’s work particularly apparently. That is certainly not a case to ban it or to cancel the exhibition. Morrisseau will have derived inspiration from others in their turn in any case. That leaves the argument about cultural appropriation, which is complex and fraught. On the one hand, a person coming from a position of relative privilege may use the artistic style of an indigenous group (even badly implemented) and achieve greater commercial success and recognition than an indigenous artist. I can understand why this would seem unjust. It would be worse if they truly appropriated the style by claiming it as their own. However, PL appears to have acknowledged their artistic inspiration to Morrisseau in any case, which negates that aspect.
I think a discussion about the genuineness and understanding of PL’s appreciation for indigenous culture, and especially the role of that form of artistic expression, combined with a critique of their work on its merits, would go a long way. Shit canning the exhibition and acting all precious about it taints everyone and risks making indigenous culture into a siloed sideshow.
Thank you for that. I wasn’t expecting a laugh-out-loud moment.