Famed artist, Louise Bourgeois, clearly had an interesting relationship with her mother. Her new installation at the Tate Modern, Maman (1999) is a giant 30ft sculpture made of bronze, steel and marble and was intended as an "ode to my mother" according to Bourgeois. Inside of the spider's immense cage-like body, lies a clutch of eggs. While the Tate describes it is a strong and warm representation of motherhood, "A female spider, this spectacular arachnid alludes to the strength of the mother with metaphors of spinning, weaving, nuture and protection", the Guggenheim Bilbao, where the piece was previously exhibited states that "The spider, provokes awe and fear". They go on to also suggest it represents weakness "[Maman's] massive height, improbably balanced on slender legs, conveys an almost poignant vulnerability." Zooillogix offers its own interpretation, and mind you, it is just one interpretation. In our mind, the giant spider "ode" probably indicates that the artist's mother mated with her and then ate her alive afterwards.
It's no Thomas Kinkade, but it's sure to terrify the kids, so it's got that going for it.
Hey want to see a completely pointless use of Canadian taxpayer money? Go see the giant spider live webcam here!
Comments
One of these is also at the National Gallery of Canada (in Ottawa). There's even a live webcam feed for some reason.
http://www.gallery.ca/english/default_webcam.htm
Posted by: Geoff Wozniak | October 4, 2007 2:27 PM
God I hate paying taxes to those morons. Nice sculpture though.
Posted by: Homie Bear | October 4, 2007 6:28 PM
I don't mind paying taxes so that others can make art for me to enjoy or detest. But spiders are creepy little monsters.
Posted by: stogoe | October 5, 2007 11:51 AM
Big deal. A spider that sits there and does nothing.
Check out www.mondospider.com . We built a 1500Lb mechanical spider that we can drive.
search for mondo spider on youtube/google for video.
Posted by: lummox | October 5, 2007 2:51 PM
Tax funds to suppport the arts I don't mind, but tax funds to support a webcam that watches a stationary statue is ridiculous.
Posted by: Homie Bear | October 5, 2007 4:58 PM
Isn't this species normally found in Vatican City?
Posted by: Russell Blackford | October 6, 2007 6:52 AM
It is a cool stationery art piece tho....
Posted by: Lummox | October 10, 2007 12:14 AM
How is to see this huge metal beast in the night, while walking around the Thames promenade... Here is this impressive piece of art ready to devour 2 little tiny human creatures :)
http://www.london-city-tourism.com/london-pictures/iron-spider-art-london-photo.html
Posted by: Catalin Mihai Caranicola | December 12, 2008 9:14 AM
I think this piece is wonderful. The symbolism for motherhood is pure genius.
xxx
Posted by: India | January 4, 2009 1:36 PM