016-louise-bourgeois-1911-2010-untitled-2010-fabricl-thread-rubber-stainless-steel-wood-and-glass
Untitled 2010 fabric, thread, rubber, stainless steel, wood and glass - Tate Modern Collection, Chen Chi Contemporary Art Image Database
018-2-louise-bourgeois-1911-2010-janus-fleuri-1968-bronze-gold-patina
Janus Fleuri 1968 bronze, gold patina - Tate Modern Collection, Chen Chi Contemporary Art Image Database
019-louise-bourgeois-1911-2010-fillette-sweeter-version-1968-99-cast-2001-later-over-plaster
Fillette - Sweeter Version 1968-99 cast 2001 later over plaster - Tate Modern Collection, Chen Chi Contemporary Art Image Database
020-louise-bourgeois-1911-2010-couple-2004-fabric-and-staintess-steel
Couple 2004 fabric and stainless steel - Tate Modern Collection, Chen Chi Contemporary Art Image Database
012-louise-bourgeois-1911-2010-cell-eyes-and-mirrors-1989-93-stee-limestone-and-glass-l
Cell-Eyes and Mirrors 1989-93 steel, limestone and glass - Tate Modern Collection, Chen Chi Contemporary Art Image Database
015-louise-bourgeois-1911-2010-cell-xiv-2000-stee-glass-wood-metal-and-reed-fabricl
Cell XIV 2000 steel, glass, wood, metal and reed, fabric - Tate Modern Collection, Chen Chi Contemporary Art Image Database

Text / Chen Chi-Hsiang

"Home is a woman's everything; men are half of a woman."

Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) is one of the most subversive and forward-looking female artists today. Her entire artistic exploration is built upon unhidden female bodies and situations, and on the margins of gender treatment. She said, "I have a high interest in what women do." Throughout her life, she relied on the surreal vitality of inner instincts to touch even more complete sensations. All her creations passed through complex symbolic forms. Within sensual and deeply heartfelt sexual vitality, "the mysterious veil of women" and "sexuality" became the core of her extraordinary imagination and idealized exploration.

The artist wrote: "One way women always explore is by becoming women themselves. Their anxiety comes from never being able to become receptive. It all begins with extreme struggles that come from: all sexuality." She also said, "Art is a guarantee of mental sanity." All these types of sexuality bring a soothing therapy for the soul.

Art critic Luce Irigaray concluded about Louise Bourgeois's work: "Clearly from a female standpoint, based only on some fragments of her own life experience. Clearly starting from these fragments, her works construct a uniquely feminine and particularly gentle imaginative world, combining this structure of instinct and awareness, which means it is human." "Women are often complex, yet they boldly disguise themselves because the other half has become them; they become automatically erotic within the family. What pattern is ultimately an activity reflected in the body and complex spiritual states, is clearly shown in her unique artistic forms."