Ocean Life 

Norval Morrisseau’s painting presents us with potent symbols, rendered in vivid colours. Here we see a fish and a bird, emblems deeply rooted in indigenous spiritual beliefs, particularly within the Ojibwe tradition. The fish, often associated with water and the subconscious, can be compared to ancient symbols of fertility and life that appear across diverse cultures. The bird, soaring between the earth and sky, represents freedom and spiritual transcendence. This recalls the Greek figure of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, a symbol of humanity's eternal aspiration to surpass earthly bounds. These animals evoke a powerful emotional response, tapping into our collective memory. Like the recurring dream, this piece engages us on a subconscious level, a symbolic language that has coursed through humanity’s veins. The constant cycle of images, the eternal return of symbols, reminds us that history is not linear, but a spiral.