I spent the afternoon after Christmas having a leisurely read of Selvedge magazine, and was thrilled to see their review of Louise Bourgeois: The Fabric Works, a show of little-seen textile pieces at Hauser and Wirth in London. The show sadly just closed (not that I would have made it to London in time!), but it’s well worth looking at the images from the show. The pieces are absolutely gorgeous, and most are far more delicate than I would have expected from the dramatic Bourgeois.
Here’s some background on the work:
Fabric played an important role in Bourgeois’s life. She grew up surrounded by the textiles of her parents’ tapestry restoration workshop, and from the age of twelve helped the business by drawing in the sections of the missing parts that were to be repaired. A life-long hoarder of clothes and household items such as tablecloths, napkins and bed linen, from the mid-nineties Bourgeois cut up and re-stitched these, transforming her lived materials into art.
I must admit to hoarding fabric from special items of clothes I just can’t throw out, so this is pretty inspiring–now I’ll start using them instead of stuffing them in a drawer!
4 thoughts on “Louise Bourgeois: The Fabric Works”
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She’s the best. I saw a fabulous installation of her work at the Pompidou a few years ago and totally fell in love. I don’t know why I didn’t think if this before, but you have inspired me with Louise’s fabric to do a fabric inspired birthday party project. I will have everyone bring a swatch of something special, unique to them. Stretch them at the party, hang them all together and photograph them. I’ll keep the the installation and send everyone home with a copy of the photo! Thanks.
This lady stood tall among contemporary artists. Her amazing sculptures, fabric compositions and other artistic endeavors will remain with her many admirers. Sadly she was one of those giants who left us during 2010 for that great art colony way beyond.
Marilyn Ng-A-Qui
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