Museum Report ▶ Mori Art Museum: Louise Bourgeois Exhibition - I Have Been to Hell and Back, and Let Me Tell You, It Was Wonderful
I went to the Louise Bourgeois exhibition at the Mori Art Museum.
I went in with no knowledge other than that she was the person who created the spider public art in front of Roppongi Hills.
After viewing the exhibition, I found myself so moved that I didn't know how to express my own feelings.
As I pondered Bourgeois's life and each of her works, I felt as though she had posed various questions to me.
The works themselves, as well as the museum space and the way they were displayed, were truly wonderful, so if you are able, please go and see it.
I will record my thoughts and the photos I took after this, but if you want to enjoy the experience of seeing it for the first time in person, please go ahead and book your tickets without scrolling further ↓
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I had absolutely no knowledge of what kind of life Bourgeois had led, but after reading the "Greeting" text at the entrance of the exhibition, I learned that she expressed universal human emotions just as they were, and that she was someone who had experienced things that could be called a "hell"...
To begin with, what is hell like... and what kind of sensibilities did she have, and what kind of art did she leave behind? I entered the museum with a mix of anticipation and a little bit of nervousness.
I will introduce a few of the works that left a particularly strong impression on me.
Thoughts on her mother
Bourgeois had a very strong attachment to her mother, and she left behind various works that layered her own feelings after becoming a mother herself.
As noted in Bourgeois's own comments, it was impressive that no matter which work you looked at, she was not just giving form to a single thought about her mother, but was always expressing conflicting emotions together.
Bourgeois believed that two contradictory meanings are inherent in all things.
She produced many works with breasts as a motif, expressing not only the mother who devotes herself to her children, but also her own weakness in always needing a mother (from the explanatory text).
Another work that left an impression regarding the breast motif was this one.
A sharp knife protrudes from behind the breast, which was explained as being there to protect her child from harm.
Breasts for nourishing children
When I saw this work, I was startled to realize that the emotion of "being willing to hurt others to protect one's child" exists within me in a size that I cannot deny.
I could not help but feel respect for Bourgeois, who was conscious of both sides of her emotions and expressed them through her work.
The breadth of expression
Bourgeois used a great many expressive techniques to convey her emotions, and I was simply overwhelmed by the breadth of that range, the abundance of her repertoire, and the intensity and diversity of the emotions she expressed.
In Chapter 2, "I Have Been to Hell and Back," various negative emotions were expressed, and there were many emotions and expressions I had never even thought of (especially "The Destruction of the Father," which was shocking, including its concept).
I learned that there are many, many more ways for me to express myself, that those methods of expression do not need to be expected to be understood by anyone, and that the viewer will have their own interpretation of the expression.
There were some things I couldn't understand at all, like "You express this emotion in this way?" (conversely, I gained new insight that this is what expression can be), and while Bourgeois probably didn't express them expecting this from others, I also realized that this is how it influences society (from "Femme Maison"). I realized that it is impossible to imagine what kind of influence will occur as a result of expressing something.
The small chair surrounded by fire doors looks like a scolded child, conveying a sense of guilt (according to the exhibition text).
It is a mystery how it looks three-dimensional from the front but invisible from the side.
Seeing it in person for the first time, I was moved by its depth and three-dimensionality.
Wonderful spatial beauty
Throughout the Bourgeois exhibition, I was frequently impressed by the museum's display methods.
Beyond the sheer scale of Bourgeois's work, the selection of pieces displayed together in the same room was consistently impressive, and I found myself genuinely thinking, 'Oh, how lovely.'
This was something that could only be felt with one's whole body by seeing it on-site, so I felt glad that I had made the trip.
It was a very good experience, as this is the first time I have been so deeply impressed by an artist I was previously unfamiliar with.
I would like to visit again if I have the chance.
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
読んでいただきありがとうございます。私の学びが誰かの小さなきっかけになったら嬉しいなと思い、日々書き留めています🌿
いただいたチップは私の新たなきっかけに活用させていただきます😊