Man Changing into Thunderbird

Institute History

Description

Man Changing into Thunderbird is an unflinching cinematic portrait of Norval Morrisseau, the infamous and lauded forefather of contemporary indigenous art. Born on a reservation in Canada in the 1930s, and later referred to as the “Picasso of the North", he is the first indigenous artist to exhibit work in a contemporary context. His tumultuous life, defined by perpetual transformation, is presented through seven vignettes, each representing one of the seven stages of life in the Anishinaabe worldview. The film resists oversimplification and depicts the many different Morrisseaus: the residential school survivor, the devout Christian, the defender of Anishinaabe traditions, and the innovative contemporary artist. Through juxtaposing these seemingly contradictory elements, a cohesive portrait emerges of a trailblazer who challenged primitive stereotypes and carved out space for Anishinaabe traditions to continue to evolve into the future.

Credits

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