Louise Bourgeois has two shows in London, and even if she is at the age of 95, she remains one of the most prolific artist.
Her eerie 35-foot-high black spider entitled Maman, was the first artwork commissioned for the Unilever series for the opening of Tate Modern in London 2000. This month, she will have two shows : her first major retrospective in the UK at Tate Modern in London from 10 October to 20 January 2008 and, concurrently, an exhibition of new works at Hauser & Wirth Colnaghi.
Louise Bourgeois uses various materials for her works such as latex, marble, tapestry, and old underwear. Her sculptures are always autobiographical, often recalling her traumatic childhood in France.
These shows will offer a rare opportunity to immerse in her unique and rewarding world. Whether viewing her earliest pieces placed alongside her 1990s works that include Cells at the Tate or her most recent bronze sculptures at Hauser & Wirth, Louise Bourgeois provides a fascinating universe.
Frances Morris, curator of the Tate show, puts it : "She is a very frail, tiny, old lady - it is remarkable even that she is still making work today, let alone continuing to reinvent herself."
Louise Bourgeois - Arch of Hysteria, 1993.
Courtesy Cheim & Read, Galerie Karsten Greve, and Hauser & Wirth
© Louise Bourgeois.
Photo: Allan Finkelman
