Louise Bourgeois Exhibition

On the 27th of January our college class ventured up to Edinburgh to visit the Louise Bourgeois 'A Woman Without Secrets' Exhibition. I personally didn't know what to expect as I knew nothing about her. In a way I found not knowing anything about her a good thing as I was able to approach her work with an open mind and gain an immediate reaction. As I walked into the exhibition I was quite surprised at her work, the sculptures of the spiders, the drawings and paintings of bodies. Her work spoke the truth of her life without sugar coating her art so it will be more pleasing to the eye. Instead I feel she exposed all her thoughts and emotions and turned them into art and because of that, I enjoyed discovering her work while trying to figure out what it says and means to me.

While I was walking around I got the idea to take notes so I could refer back to them later on. 

 

 

One of my favourite quotes of hers that I read on one of the information plaques was

"and yet you cannot do anything about it. You had better be it's friend, or accept it, or love it if you can, because it might get the better of you, you never know." 

This quote means a lot to me as it reminds me to accept the challenges within myself. When I was younger I tried to befriend my panic attacks by not fearing them but comforting them, I would calm myself down just the way I would if any of my friends were feeling anxious. My anxiety did take form of another person within me (the part of me that was shy, scared and empty) and throughout the experience of coping I decided to become the bigger and stronger one of the horrible, negative 'person' that lives inside by accepting myself.

Spider (2001 - 02)

Even though I was amazed by all of her truthful and heart filled art pieces, I felt as though I related most to this one. For me this piece symbolises fear taking over, spiders are most commonly known to be related to fear and nightmares. I feel as though the room represents a situation in life that is hard to overcome, it suffocates you as the room seems very claustrophobic and narrow. The two squares within the walls on either side could represent windows (windows to freedom and happiness) but the spider (your fear) is blocking the way.  

Spiders where a common theme in her work.

"The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. 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"

I find this quite interesting because Louise see's spiders in a different light, as a symbol of her mother. Another thing I've learnt throughout the years of studying art is that everyone has their own take on a subject, everyone sees things differently. For example you could think you've seen the most beautiful painting in the world and their will always be someone else who will see the painting in a total different light and think it's completely awful, this is just one of the many things I enjoy about art.