Louise Bourgeois born December 25th, 1911, is a sculptor and artist. She is perhaps most famous for her monumental spider sculptures. The sculpture you see is titled, "Maman" and stands outside of the Tate Museum in London. She says spiders symbolize her mother. It is made of stainless steel and marble. Did you know that there is a bronze cast of this sculpture in the Samsung Museum of Art right here in Seoul?
Read her quote about the sculpture you see in the picture:
Bourgeois says “The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother. “
http://www.artknowledgenews.com/Louise_Bourgeois_Maman.html
Without reading the quote above, would you have thought the sculpture was an ode to her mother? Why or why not?
If you could create a monumental, (huge), sculpture in homage to your mother what shape would it take on? Explain.
What materials would you use? Why?
Without reading the quote above, would you have thought the sculpture was an ode to her mother? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: yes because i think the best mother in the world is a spider. THey lay their eggs carfully in a bundle and die and i think that a spider would be a perfect ode to the mother. spiders would risk their lives for their children just like mothers would. And also after reading "Charlotte's Web" it looks like just the perfect symbol.
If you could create a monumental, (huge), sculpture in homage to your mother what shape would it take on? Explain.
Answer: i think i would make a giving tree. A tree that gives everything they got away to their loved ones and die quietly.
What materials would you use? Why?
answer: i would use tree barks, wood, leaves, bronze, and leather. Because the tree barks and wood represents the big arms of the mothers the leaves represent the shade they give us and the leather represents the soft warm heart of my mother.
Sukwon S. 8th
ReplyDeleteI think, without reading the quote, I wouldn't have been able to know that the sculpture was an ode to her mother, because the sculpture just looks like a gigantic spider. If I am going to create a monumental sculpture in homage to my mother, it would be a teddy bear since my mom likes teddy bear. I am going to use wood as an outline just like wire in our paper mache project to make the sculpture stand up and get balance. Also, my mom likes to buy sculpture made of wood. On the outside, I will use cloth because my mom's hobby is weaving.
1. I don't think I would have known the spider was an ode to her mother without reading the quote because the spider could represent anything to her, or even a important event from the past.
ReplyDelete2. In my case, I would create a monument of an ostrich, since my mom seriously has a very long neck, and ostriches are tall, serious, and grand, but they defend when they need to, and they have unimaginable power.
3. I would use the hardest metal for the feet and beak, since it is where the ostrich uses strongly, and I will use soft, colorful real feathers for the body, and shiny marbles to show the glittering eyes.
1. Without reading the quote above, would you have thought the sculpture was an ode to her mother? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have known if I didn't read the quote because, according to Bourgeois, she says that spiders are friendly presences. However, when you look at "Maman", my first impressions were that it looks pretty scary.
2. If you could create a monumental, (huge), sculpture in homage to your mother what shape would it take on? Explain.
I would of chosen my mom as a mockingbird, because she never does me any harm, but she chirps all day long, telling me to do this and that. I know that she is telling me to do these things all for my good, which is kind of like a mockingbird, who is actually making beautiful music, not just annoying people.
3. What materials would you use? Why?
I would probably use stainless steel and marble, just like "Maman". This is because it would last a long time, and I would be able to display it outside. However, on the other hand, if I used something like paper mache, it wouldn't last that long in the outdoors.
Without reading the quote above, I wouldn't have thought that the sculpture above was an ode to her mother, because spiders are hideous- especially HUGE ones, which makes me think about the "appearance" first, not the "meaning" of this sculpture.
ReplyDeleteIf I could create a monumental (huge) sculpture in homage to my mom, I would make a bird shape, because birds usually get preys for their babies, and give the food to them, whenever they are hungry. My mom also does that, and, not only that, she also yields food for us, not for herself.
The materials I would use are: silver for its body and copper for its beak and legs and eyes. The reason is because silver would represent the beauty of my mom, and copper would represent how my mom works hard that it has copper instead of silver, which means that copper is the part where it's active, but not for silver.
#1 I didn't know that the sculpture was an ode to her mother because I didn't know the information about spider, such as, the spiders are smart, friendly and helpful too.
ReplyDelete#2 I would make a strong bear for my mother. The bears are soft and nice. In another hand, the bears are scary and protective. Sometimes, my mother listen to my concerns and help me. Sometimes, she protects me if I am danger. So, I think the bear will be just like my mother.
#3 I would use steel to make it strong and a soft nice fur to make it soft .
1) I wouldn't have thought the sculpture was an ode to her mother because to me, bugs aren't something friendly or valuable––I wouldn't have compared a spider to MY mom.
ReplyDelete2) The monumental sculpture would have the shape of a bean bag because it makes me feel comfortable, safe, and at home.
3) I would use (unused) pencils because my mom is a professor.
Great responses A block! Your ideas are well thought out and very interesting. I would love to see them come to life!
ReplyDeleteI would have though half of it, because I do not hate spiders, nor is scared of them. However, I wouldn't have though of the fact that the mother was a weaver and also very protective. If I would have thought of my mother, I would say a porcupine because she is very aware and careful at times (needles up) but also very encouraging a warm (needles down). The materials I would use woule be wood because some are hard, but some are soft.
ReplyDeleteWithout reading her quote, I wouldn't have noticed about the sculpture being an ode to her mother since it looked only like a big spider for me. If I had to create a sculpture in my mother's homage, I would make an ant because my mom is usually hard working. I would use wood or clay for this sculpture.
ReplyDeleteWithout reading the quote, I wouldn't have notice that the spider symbolized her mother because my first impression of the "Maman" was a bit frightening. It is an fascinating sculpture, but it just didn't look like a symbol of mother.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to make a sculpture symbolizing my mother, I would make a huge book. My mom likes to read and reads during her free time. I would use metal to make the sculpture stay in place and cover it with paper(so it looks like a real book).I would write my mom's name on the sculpture.
I have thought that the spider was not an ode to her mother because I don't like bugs, and I don't want my family or my mom to look like a bug. But, I think spiders can be a good mother.
ReplyDeleteIf I could create a monumental, sculpture in homage to your mother I would make it like a tree. It is because a tree can live long and it gives us good stuffs, such as fruits and oxygen.
I would use tree branches, and pencils to show that the tree is old, and some leaves to show that it is still living.
I had a thought somewhat similar to the artist making it for an ode to her mother. Since it is no ordinary spider, (It's huge!!) it came to my mind that it looks like as if it was a protecter of the whole world. It doesn't look as scary as the spiders in real life, and everyone without an 'artistic' eye probably would have thought this was gross or disgusting because it's a SPIDER. But in my opinion, I would never compare a spider to my mother. It's just... not a very interesting or heartfelt idea to make a spider and call it mom. :D
ReplyDeleteIf I made a huge sculpture to represent my mom, I would make a teddy bear. I'd make a teddy bear because my mother is soft, caring, and most of the time, she's very nice.
The main material I would use for my teddy bear would be crystal swarovski beads because she makes jewelery and all sorts of little bead animals. I think it would be a rather expensive project. :D
I wouldn't have known that the spider sculpture was an ode to her mother without reading the quotes. It says in her quote that her mother was my best friend Like a spider. Usually people don't find spiders friendly. However I was impressed at the fact that she used a spider to represent her mum to show how clever and strong her mother was.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a monumental, I would make it in a shoe shape. It's partly because my mum loves shoes, but not only that shoes protect our feet therefore it shows how my mum protects me. I would use metal for this monumental because metal is a strong material.
If I didn't read her quote above, I probably wouldn't have known that it was ode tp het mother because, even though it relates to her mother, we don't really know anything about her mother and to tell th truth, when someone's says mother, a giant spider isn't something that pops into my mind right away.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to make a huge, monumental sculpture in homage to my mom, I'd make it into a shape of well, a mother. It would be a sculpture of a woman carrying a child, because my mother is caring and she loves her children (me, siblings etc etc...) and this way, everyone could understand the meaning of the sculpture and who it is for.
It would be made out if soft, wood material, because if it is made out of metal, it gives out a cild, hard feeling, that people just can't get close to, but if it's made out of a softer, wooden material, it'll make the sculpture look warm and approachable(?)
Patrick K said.....
ReplyDeleteIf I saw this sculpture without reading the quote, I wouldn't have thought that the sculpture itself was an ode to the creator's mother, and would have thought that it was something of a museum. This is because usually museums have these kinds of animal sculptures or statues like dinosaurs, if they are really famous, so I would have thought that the spider was a historical animal really famous. Plus, I never saw someone that made an animal sculpture to represent their parents, so it was amazing. If I could create a sculpture to homage my mother, I would make the animal a snake, because snakes are calm, cautious, and always think before they move. That is just like my mom. Every time she works, she always thinks before she actually does the work, and thinks the plan up carefully. Businesses, housework, ect. I would use wires, and paper, because than I can impress her when I show the sculpture to her that I made it with wire and paper, and not like clay, or stones that are common.
I thought spider was not useful bug. I thought spider was jus dicussing bugs that eats bug.
ReplyDeleteI would create suclture of horse because I love horse and everyone think horse will be very scary but if you get to know one horse you ride they will be friendly.
I will use metal to make a feeling that horse is shiny and strong!!
I would have thought half of it, because I do not hate spiders, and I am scared of them. However, I wouldn't have thought of the fact that the mother was a weaver and also very protective. If I would have thought of my mother, I would say a porcupine because she is very aware and careful at times (needles up) but also very encouraging a warm (needles down). The materials I would use wood because some are hard, but some are soft.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the sculpture at first, it looked quite scary and threatening. Without reading the quote, I would not have thought that it was an ode to her mother. It looks more like something from her nightmare made into a sculpture. If I had to make a sculpture in homage of my mother, I would make a sculpture of a bear. It is because bears are nice and thoughtful. They are not rough nor violent and I feel that they would be honest and trustworthy. They collect plenty of food for the winter and have a slot of sleep which is what my mother likes to do. I would make the sculpture out of fur and paper since they are soft.
ReplyDeleteWithout reading the quote above, would you have thought the sculpture was an ode to her mother? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have thought that this was an ode to her mother before I read the quote. I rather thought it would have something to do with a memory when she was a child; or something that represented what she thought was her personality. It is indeed a different idea to make an ode to your mother.
If you could create a monumental, (huge), sculpture in homage to your mother what shape would it take on? Explain.
I would make her into a tiger, because she is as ferocious as a tiger and she has a talent of stalking things down. To me, she looks more like a tiger than anything. She is my idol and I want to be as strong as her.
What materials would you use? Why?
I would use cherry wood, platinum and gold if I could afford it. The gold and platinum would make the stripes and they would be very catchy to the eye.I would want everyone to see my sculpture at least once in their life and I would use the cherry type wood nicely, representing the orange fur and it would be able to transfer the feeling of silkiness to the audience(people who are looking at the sculpture)
No one can save us if this is real one. Nice post,just kidding but that might be my answer.
ReplyDeletedean graziosi