Critter Collection

On view September 1st to 30th, 2023 at NorVA Centre Art Gallery in Flin Flon, Manitoba

Exhibition Catalog Essay by

Hanna Ferris

Being a young woman is an everchanging experience – one that is widely explored through creative mediums. Sisters, Ozma and Oona George address this concept, focusing on the experience of lost innocence and the stresses that are upheld by global uncertainty. Through their work, the artists recall ‘coming of age’ stories. Recounting these in unique ways, Ozma and Oona strive to create safe spaces for viewers to confront a range of challenging emotions, including those of loss, identity, and confusion. The artists have a shared aesthetic, reflective of contemporary video game culture and animation. This relies on dynamic characters with agency and includes elements like vibrant colours, otherworldly environments, and visual storytelling techniques. Ozma and Oona take pride in creating these original characters, they nurture and temper their protagonists by intertwining artistic practice and lived experience. Both identify as ‘gamer girls’ and explore the avatar sensibility, drawing inspiration from digital media and the perceptively cute creatures that inhabit this realm. The sisters interpret, rework, and translate these digital creatures into analogue worlds using various painterly strategies. 

This exhibition opens September 1st, 2023 and comprises 20 artworks; a selection of paintings that illuminate whimsical interpretations of the ‘coming of age’ trope. The scope of work presents opportunity for a range of emotional and subjective positions and variables. While some of the paintings evoke positive and heartwarming feelings, others delve into darker, emotional, or cerebral territories. This range adds depth and complexity to the exhibition and emphasizes the differences between Ozma and Oona’s creative approaches. Despite their being siblings, each artist brings unique style, technique, and perspective to their paintings. 

Ozma has three years of formal training at the University of Manitoba School of Art and draws inspiration from a variety of well-known and underground artists including Hieronymus Bosch, Emily Carr, Genieve Figgis, and Heikala. These artists span both historically and stylistically, each exploring the fantastical and suggesting evocative themes. Through this pool of inspiration, Ozma demonstrates an accomplished hand and fluency of form and function, landing somewhere between illustration and painterly expressionism. In Cats Camping in Garden of Earthly Delights the artist conjures a dystopian landscape where characters thrive. Harkening back to Hieronymus Bosch’s panel painting from the early Renaissance – The Garden of Earthly Delights – Ozma explores notions of hell, creating relationships between contemporary and historic imagery. The artist satirizes the situation, suggesting the adaptability of these creatures who are making light of the hellscape that surrounds them. This playful painting is perhaps an allegory for modern life – as young people struggle to make their way in an ever-deteriorating world. While inflation continues and environmental challenges come to a head, youth continue to face challenges that will shape the future in profound ways. 

Oona George, with her edgy and decisive sensibility, has showcased her artistic talent at Video Pool Studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A recent high school graduate, her contribution to this exhibition marks the continuation of a promising creative journey. Oona’s work introduces a sense of contrast to the space, as her paintings are not only more literal but larger in scale. Using spray paint, the artist pairs down her characters and infuses them with raw emotion. Simplicity is at the core of her practice. This makes for bold linework, simplified colour palettes, and easily digested imagery. In her painting SEA, Oona’s use of texture and spray-paint adds an edginess to the otherwise simplistic forms. The dripping creates a foreboding environment, suggesting that viewers look more closely to discern concealed meaning. As the creature peers upwards, a sense of hierarchy is established, and it becomes clear that they are powerless. Innocence, vulnerability, and stress is portrayed vividly – enabling viewers to consider top-down power dynamics, the effects of outwardly perceived innocence, and how this can be converted to strength.

The George family’s artistic prowess is evident, and their collective accomplishments are varied. As emerging artists, Ozma and Oona continually flex their conceptual abilities and strive for ongoing creative evolution. Curator and mother, Brenna George boasts an impressive resume, spanning nearly four decades of artistic experience. Her works have been collected and exhibited by esteemed institutions including the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and Artspeak in Vancouver. Her proficiency adds a layer of professionalism, ensuring a cohesive and impactful display of Ozma and Oona’s work at NorVA. 

Critter Collection stands as a compelling and immersive exploration of young womanhood in an era of global uncertainty. The artists’ dedication to profound thematic imagery provides an insightful glimpse into their respective imaginations. Ranging from encounters with strange creatures, to the fragility of life, the paintings navigate complex emotions. As an artistic collaboration between Ozma and Oona, and under the astute curation of Brenna George, Critter Collection offers a unique perspective as to the challenges faced during the transitory period between youth and adulthood. By delving into the realms of innocence and darkness, this exhibition not only captures the essence of a generation but also serves as a catalyst for personal reflection and social dialogue.

Hanna Ferris (she/her) is a budding Art Historian and researcher interested in feminism in the face of contemporary religious imagery. She studies art history at the University of Manitoba, School of Art and is pursuing an MA in Art and Architectural history in January of 2024.

Ozma George

Hell

2023, oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches