4. How has the composition of the work been
organised? Consider form, scale, colour, texture,
space, volume, links between parts and the
relationship of elements.⢠Scale: 252.7 x 434.3 x 304.8 cm
Pascal theory of God being small/large: cells- scales
⢠Form (sculpture unbalanced relationship between sculpture and
architecture)
Are we looking at someone who operates on their âgut feelingâ? Or is
this a body twisting and turning and becoming entangled?
⢠Texture
⢠Colours
⢠Relations of elements
The jute doll also presents a contradiction. It is not clear whether we
are looking at the inside or the outside of a body.
⢠Position of mirror: However intimate, there is always a barrier between
ourselves and others; part of yourself always remains hidden.
⢠What strikes us is that the mirror is slightly distorting. The doll is not
only not properly reflected, we cannot see our own reflection in focus
either.
⢠Are we invited to go in the cell or not?
5. Why did the artist make these choices?
⢠Material - The materials show a history of Bourgeoisâs work and life
⢠Relationship of element - Pain, trauma, childhood, womanhood, love, hate
⢠Scale - âNot depend on the museum space,â
⢠Space - The Cells are museums themselves
⢠The âCellsâ are a conclusion of Bourgeoisâs influences, practices and
themes.
6. Is there a focal point or central point?
The focal/central point is the main body that
is located hanging in the middle of the cell.
Itâs the first thing you see as you walk in.
7. Do you know what the title refers to?
⢠Louise Bourgeois created a series of âCellsâ, starting from one to six. The term âCellâ
relates to the idea of a living organism, but also references to a prison cell. This concept
relates to her personal life and the traumatic childhood she experienced, as she was
imprisoned by all the trauma.
8. What does it remind you of?
⢠âCell XXVIâ shows a figure in the center of a cage which in my perspective, represents
Bourgeoisâ entrapment with herself, her massive reflection against the mirror shows
how she can not look at her past and the hole through the cage represents how only one
person can look clearly through her mind or actual true self.
10. Practice Aims
âMy work grows from the duel between the isolated individual and the
shared awareness of the groupâ
Bourgeoisâ work seems to focus on ideas of exclusion, and isolation, but also on the relationships of
objects and materials. She often creates sculptures that can be seen as a related singular work, but
simultaneously stand alone.
Bourgeoisâ work is highly related to her personal life and traumatic childhood, and leads to her
creation of physical works to do with the body and sexual desire, in this sense her creation of art
becomes a kind of visual language to relay her experiences in life.
11. What feelings or reactions does this work
evoke?
DOLL:
â˘Is it the inside or the outside of a body?
â˘Appears twisted
â˘Looks similar to intestines/fecal matter
UNDERSKIRTS:
â˘Delicate
â˘feminine
â˘Suggests as to layers
â˘Intrusion of privacy
http://www.gemeentemuseum.nl/en/organisation/blogs/the-cells-of-louise-bourgeois
12. MIRROR:
â˘Is the figure reflecting upon something inside them
â˘Is slightly distorted- the reflection in it is therefore not completely clear
CELL:
â˘Is it a prison or a kind of refuge? Keeping something/someone in or out?
â˘The door is open- is something being set free or escaping?
13. "The spiral is an attempt at controlling the chaos. It has two directions. Where do you
place yourself [âŚ]? Beginning at the outside is the fear of losing control; the winding in is a
tightening, a retreating, a compacting to the point of disappearance. Beginning at the
centre is affirmation, the move outward is a representation of giving, and giving up
control: of trust, positive energy, of life itself. â
- Louise Bourgeois
14. What influences of other artists can be
seen in this work?
⢠Bourgeoisâs work often deals with poignant themes such as anxiety, loneliness, betrayal,
sex, and death
⢠Puts emphasis on organic forms and states of metamorphosis which can be traced to her
interest in the French Surrealists; she had met and been influenced artists such as Marcel
Duchamp, Max Ernst, and AndrĂŠ Breton
18. What political, social, historical and
religious influences are shown? (if any)
The pieces has more social influences:
â˘Feminist and psychoanalytic themes
â˘Poignant themes such as anxiety, loneliness, betrayal, sex, and death
â˘Themes of her own life
19. What do you think of the work?
⢠It is a interesting and unique representation of emotion through sculpture
⢠The mirror provides an interesting reflection of a warped version of the self
⢠The open cage door, is a good representational action towards her emotional submissive
invitation to her own world
⢠Bourgeois stated that the Cells represent âdifferent types of pain; physical, emotional
and psychological, mental and intellectual⌠Each Cell deals with a fear. Fear is painâŚ
Each Cell deals with the pleasure of the voyeur, the thrill of looking and being looked at.â