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  2. Giant Spider Attacks Tate Modern

Giant Spider Attacks Tate Modern

By zooillogix on October 4, 2007.

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.

i-977812ba72232682d1c89e43e86003c7-spider sculpture maman .jpg
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!

Tags
Arachnid
Art
Louise Bourgeois
maman
spider
tate modern

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I don't mind paying taxes so that others can make art for me to enjoy or detest. But spiders are creepy little monsters.

I think this piece is wonderful. The symbolism for motherhood is pure genius.
xxx