Louise Bourgeois

Jan 26, 2009 14:50

There was a Louise Bourgeois show at MOCA that I kept trying to go see, but that my plans kept falling through for.  I finally managed to go yesterday, the last day of the exhibit.  I'm so glad I went, too, because it was wonderful.  A few of my favorite pieces were:

Spider (1997), with it's delicacy and toughness, it's curves and roughness.  It was enormous, and it's thrilling to see a piece from a female artist that is unafraid to take up so much space!

Fée Couturière (1963), which felt so mysterious and magical with its depth and hidden places.  I can't find a good picture of it, but there are all sorts of twisted caverns inside, and it was hung high up, so that you could peek into them from below.

Torso, Self Portrait (1963-4), for its visceral representation of certain ineffable feelings.  So many strong emotions manifest themselves as physical sensations in the torso, and I feel like this really captured some of that.

One and Others (1955),
with its beckoning softness and promise of safety.  It was behind glass, but I really wanted to touch it.

And my favorite of all, Nature Study (1984-94):


[another view here],
which is absolutely spellbinding, and left me in tears. It pains me to know I may never see it in person again.  I'm crushed that I can find any good images of the back.  My god, the hips and thighs were just astonishing.  This may be my all-time favorite self-portrait.

I finally put those free tickets I've been hoarding to good use!
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