Louise Bourgeois' Confessional Art

One of the most spectacular pieces of contemporary art I've ever seen in the flesh has to be 'Maman' (Mummy), the giant spider sculpture by French-American artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois. If you don't know what I'm referring to, here is a suitably giant photograph of it:

The talented artist is well known for her contributions to contemporary art as well as being recognized as founder and pioneer of confessional art - by which her work is considered autobiographical but in an abstract fashion. Much of her work reflects the childhood trauma of discovering at the age of elven that her English governess was having an affair with her father thus her art deals with themes of betrayal, anxiety, and loneliness. I like art that carries a personal meaning.

During the late 1990s, Bourgeois started using spiders in her artwork. The largest of her spider works was the sculpture 'Maman' which is over 9 meters tall and the original was made from steel and marble. The sculpture alludes to the strength of her mother in the knowledge of her father's behavior and is symbolic of spinning, nurture and protection. I actually saw the original back in 2000 in the Tate Modern in London. There's a power to it that overwhelms you, perhaps just from the sheer size. Whatever it is, it leaves a lasting impression.

The late Bourgeois was born in Paris in 1911 but migrated to New York in the late 1930s. Her art wasn't really recognized until later in life and she kept making art until her sudden death in May 2010. In fact her last pieces were finished the week before she died.

Apart from Maman, she has also done some other interesting art works. Here are few pieces below:

This is called 'Arch of Hysteria'