Exhibition Review: Artist Rooms – Louise Bourgeois

One of the great figures of modern art, Louise Bourgeois’ embrace of duality is revealed in a posthumous exhibition that brings work owned by the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland to Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery.

Louise Bourgeois’ Artist Rooms exhibition is clearly a must see show, so Saturday 8th July 2023 saw me defer the two weekly trip to Tesco and catch my usual service 3 bus down to Blackpool and the Grundy Art Gallery to catch the first day of this magnificent exhibition.

Stepping through the door, I was greeted by a video loop introducing me to the artist, her background and her associates. All the interpretation boards are excellent and explain the pieces clearly.

French-American artist Bourgeois was born in Paris in 1911, settling in New York in 1938. She continued to make art until her death at the age of 98. She used her art to make sense of her experiences, which is characterised by emotional honesty. Materials include marble, bronze, latex and fabric (including clothes from her wardrobe).

This exhibition focuses on work from the last twenty years of her life, a period of great creativity. Themes include identity, gender, childhood, family and memory. Some work might not be for the arachnophobic, with the spider being a recurring theme. Bourgeois clearly had much respect and liking for arachnids, seeing them as a motif for strong motherhood.

To this end, Spider 1994 stands alone in one of the side galleries. I noticed that the basket under the body contained a bird or reptile shaped egg. Another smaller spider graces the main gallery’s wall (above).

Moving between the pieces I was gripped by the sheer consistency and quality of the work on display, some of which I could have stood and admired all day. Without fully understanding what a piece is saying (despite the interpretation boards), the intensity, empathy and humanity is clear.

Some might say that some of the pieces are crude or even childishly drawn, until they tried to execute such work themselves and realised the degree of skill and sophistication involved. The pieces are so expressive.

Some are subtly erotic, including pieces based on family life. Other pieces suggest body parts; with one called ‘Tits’, there’s little doubt what it represents. Other works show frustration, suffering and anger. Found materials have been used, which I always like.

The bronze casts are extremely beautiful objects, being very smooth and, in their way, voluptuous with their delicate contouring. Hands are cast and are almost life like – such care in pouring that metal must have been taken. The role of a dedicated assistant is acknowledged and used in a particular work. The delicate hands used in the piece below are the assistant’s.

All must see this show, if at all possible. It’s not often we have something so high profile in Blackpool. I am intending to return for another look before the show closes and moves on from the 9th September 2023.

At the time of writing, plenty of time, but time runs away, so don’t let this gorgeous exhibition slip by you.

The exhibition comes courtesy of Artists Rooms, a touring collection of international and contemporary art jointly owned by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. The programme reaches audiences across the UK and is developed through local partnerships.