LOUISE BOURGEOIS SPIDERS
Louise Bourgeois - Video: A Prisoner of My Memories
Article: Women's Art; Louise Bourgeois, Maman the Mother
Louise Bourgeois made many sculptures of spiders. Some are just a few inches tall (as big as an apple) and some are over thirty feet tall (as big as a building). Maman, the vast steel and marble sculpture in the form of a giant arachnid was created by the French artist Louise Bourgeois in 1999.
The sculpture, at thirty feet high and more than 30 feet wide, is one of the largest sculptures in the world. However, several versions of the sculpture were cast in bronze, many of which were placed on permanent display at galleries around the globe, from Spain, to Canada and Korea.
Evoking the nightmarish and surreal, Bourgeois’ huge spider installation may be viewed in terms of Western arts ability to embody both wonder and terror. Maman, with its sinewy long legs and towering presence, in turn, certainly excites the imagination, as if a horror creeping from the pages a Gothic novel or a malevolent invader from an apocalyptic B-movie.
‘Maman’ is the French word for mother and the sculpture itself is representative of Bourgeois’ own maternal parent. The artist’s mother died when Bourgeois was a young woman, leaving a deep emotional scar. Rather than a symbol of horror, the spider is representative of a protective presence for Bourgeois; patient and protective.
“The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother.”
Maman, the mother as a sculptural embodiment of fear, vulnerability, female protection and awesome power is an iconic and complexly beautiful artwork from a prolific and hugely gifted artist.
The sculpture, at thirty feet high and more than 30 feet wide, is one of the largest sculptures in the world. However, several versions of the sculpture were cast in bronze, many of which were placed on permanent display at galleries around the globe, from Spain, to Canada and Korea.
Evoking the nightmarish and surreal, Bourgeois’ huge spider installation may be viewed in terms of Western arts ability to embody both wonder and terror. Maman, with its sinewy long legs and towering presence, in turn, certainly excites the imagination, as if a horror creeping from the pages a Gothic novel or a malevolent invader from an apocalyptic B-movie.
‘Maman’ is the French word for mother and the sculpture itself is representative of Bourgeois’ own maternal parent. The artist’s mother died when Bourgeois was a young woman, leaving a deep emotional scar. Rather than a symbol of horror, the spider is representative of a protective presence for Bourgeois; patient and protective.
“The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother.”
Maman, the mother as a sculptural embodiment of fear, vulnerability, female protection and awesome power is an iconic and complexly beautiful artwork from a prolific and hugely gifted artist.
BIG IDEA: Create a spider in the style of Louise Bourgeois
3 Options: Tinfoil. Paper. Paper Mache/Found object
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: Why do artists use symbolism in their artwork? How does symbolism effect artwork and the viewers experience?
KEY KNOWLEDGE:
INSTRUCTIONS: Follow the guidelines in one of the following videos and PDFS below to either create a tinfoil spider, an origami spider or paper mache found object spider influenced by Louise Bourgeois. You can take your spider further and create a base and also paint if you choose to do so.
3 Options: Tinfoil. Paper. Paper Mache/Found object
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: Why do artists use symbolism in their artwork? How does symbolism effect artwork and the viewers experience?
KEY KNOWLEDGE:
- Content Standard #1 - Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes • Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas
- Content Standard #5 - Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others. • Students analyze contemporary and historic meanings in specific artworks through cultural and aesthetic inquiry.
INSTRUCTIONS: Follow the guidelines in one of the following videos and PDFS below to either create a tinfoil spider, an origami spider or paper mache found object spider influenced by Louise Bourgeois. You can take your spider further and create a base and also paint if you choose to do so.
- Tinfoil Spider Video Instructions
- Kirikomi Origami Video Instructions #1
- Origami Video Instructions # 2
- Paper Mache/Found Object Sculpture: You do not need to use specific materials in this lesson and are allowed to improvise.