artists research. Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois 

French/American 

1930-2010 (age 98)


www.Tate.org.uk/artist

 "the main force behind her art was to work through her troubled childhood memories. These memories were not specific, but a layering of emotional responses ...."

...

" three tall steel towers entitled I Do, I Undo and I Redo, referring to processes of emotional development in relation to motherhood"


HER WORK

Louise Bourgeois was known for her transformation of her emotions through installations and sculpture, grown from her childhood trauma. Towering spider sculptures, odd stylized character head sculptures, painting and printmaking. 


 Maman 1999 for the Tate museum

Maman is a whopping great sculpture that stands over 30ft high and 33ft wide. Constructed of bronze, stainless steel and marble and was made for the opening of the Tate in 2000. 8 towering spindly twisted legs support a small body above showing a sack and eggs.




ABOUT HER

Caring for her mother at a young age and loosing her to illness at a young age. Observing her fathers disloyal behaviour towards her mother all the while living through the first world war. All this clearly leading to fears of abandonment in adult life and thus showcasing that in her work.

HOW I RELATE 

This is, besides not having lived through a war (.... almost ..... lets not,) but this is all quite relatable to me on a personal level growing through childhood trauma myself and having been abandoned by two father figures. I feel that art has saved my life when battling with the mental health issues i suffer with daily and having to re-learn conditioning which I received through my childhood. All this i am living through is a muse for my art and I feel Bourgeois used art in the same way.  

 


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