Surrealism is anathema for me. Because the surrealists made a joke of everything. And I consider life a tragedy. Louise Bourgeois More Quotes by Louise Bourgeois More Quotes From Louise Bourgeois Art is restoration: the idea is to repair the damages that are inflicted in life, to make something that is fragmented - which is what fear and anxiety do to a person - into something whole. Louise Bourgeois anxiety ideas art The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. . . Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother. Louise Bourgeois mother clever friendly A work of art does not need an explanation. The work has to speak for itself. The work may be subject to many interpretations, but only one was in the mind of the artist. Some artists say to make the work readable for the public is an artist’s responsibility, but I don’t agree with that. The only responsibility to be absolutely truthful to the self. My work disturbs people and nobody wants to be disturbed They are not fully aware of the effect my work has on them, but they know it is disturbing. Louise Bourgeois responsibility self art In my sculpture, it's not an image I am seeking, it's not an idea. My goal is to re-live a past emotion. My art is an exorcism, and beauty is something I never talk about. Louise Bourgeois past ideas art Tell your own story, and you will be interesting. Louise Bourgeois stories interesting One must accept the fact that others don’t see what you do. Louise Bourgeois accepting facts When I was growing up, all the women in my house were using needles. I've always had a fascination with the needle, the magic power of the needle. The needle is used to repair damage. It's a claim to forgiveness. It is never aggressive, it's not a pin. Louise Bourgeois magic growing-up house Art is a guarantee of sanity. That is the most important thing I have Louise Bourgeois important guarantees art A work of art doesn't have to be explained. If you do not have any feeling about this, I cannot explain it to you. If this doesn't touch you, I have failed. Louise Bourgeois works-of-art feelings art I came from a family of repairers. The spider is a repairer. If you bash into the web of a spider, she doesn't get mad. She weaves and repairs it. Louise Bourgeois bash spiders mad I have been to hell and back, and let me tell you, it was wonderful. Louise Bourgeois hell-and-back let-me wonderful I am not what I am, I am what I do with my hands. Louise Bourgeois bourgeois hands The subject of pain is the business I am in - to give meaning and shape to frustration and suffering. The existence of pain cannot be denied. I propose no remedies or excuses. Louise Bourgeois frustration pain giving Art is a way of recognizing oneself. Louise Bourgeois recognizing way art An artist can show things that other people are terrified of expressing. Louise Bourgeois acceptance memorable art Horizontality is a desire to give up, to sleep. Verticality is an attempt to escape. Hanging and floating are states of ambivalence. Louise Bourgeois giving-up desire sleep Everything I do is inspired by my early life”, Bourgeois’ looked up to her mother who was the most important person in her life for many reasons, ‘Maman’ symbolizes her mother; “The friend, because my best friend was my mother and she was deliberate, clever, patient, soothing, reasonable, dainty, subtle, indispensable, neat, and as useful as a spider. Louise Bourgeois important mother clever I am a searcher... Louise Bourgeois searchers pieces missing The feminists took me as a role model, as a mother. It bothers me. I am not interested in being a mother. I am still a girl trying to understand myself. Louise Bourgeois role-models girl mother Every day you have to abandon your past or accept it and then, if you cannot accept it, you become a sculptor. Louise Bourgeois sculpture accepting past
