Cell VIII

During her 70-year long career Louise Bourgeois created a highly distinctive and unique body of work that consists of paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations. The major themes of her work derive from childhood memories, familial relationships, and sexuality.

One of the recurring themes in Bourgeois’ art is the relationship of one person to another that is expressed through a relationship to architecture. Cell VIII is an octagonal cage made of wire mesh with a single door. Clothes of various shades of blue and a large tapestry cross the cage from wall to wall. A small chair covered in flesh coloured fabric with human feet for its legs sits secretly behind the tapestry. A small block of pink marble with carved rabbit ears rests near the wall. A tiny spider clings to one of the cell walls.

The entire installation has a somewhat menacing air. Bourgeois has recreated a memory from her childhood when she would hide behind the tapestries that her family restored. Hidden, she was able to listen secretly to the conversations of the grown-ups. The blue of the clothes relates to the idea of not knowing what is going on and being in the dark. The clothes which belonged to the artist not only stand in as surrogates for her but also symbolize the passing of time. The rabbit ears signify the importance of the sense of hearing when all other senses are blocked. And the spider represents Bourgeois’ mother who restored the tapestries and was the artist’s protector.