Lecture Notes: Louise Bourgeois Exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art

Introduction

• Speaker: Deborah Wye, Chief Curator Emerita of Princeton Illustrated Books.
• Exhibition: "Louise Bourgeois, An Unfolding Portrait."
  • Begins in the atrium, extends to the third floor galleries.
  • Reflects on Bourgeois' life and work, who passed away in 2010.

Personal Touch

• Louise's Influence: Used to rearrange her exhibitions.
• Audio Inclusion: Bourgeois' voice included at the entrance.

Exhibition Themes

Architecture Embodied

• Concept: Architecture as emotional metaphor.
  • Skyscraper alone = loneliness.
  • Two skyscrapers = estranged couple.
  • Three = jealousy and a love triangle.
• Stories/Parables: Touch on themes like loneliness, family estrangement, and violence.

Transition to Sculpture

• Career Shift: From painting/prints to sculpture.
  • Sculpture offered more tangible emotional expression.
• Notable Work: "Portrait of Jean-Louis," a nod to her son and Le Corbusier's architectural style.

Fabric of Memory

• Background: Family of tapestry restorers.
• Late Exploration: Began fabric art in her 80s.
• Significant Work: "Ode à l'oubli," a fabric book using old garments.
  • Represents personal memories and experiences.

Printmaking Process

• Method: Involves multiple stages of development.
  • Copper plate, inking, and iteration.
• Exhibition's Purpose: Showcase Bourgeois' creative process across mediums.

Legacy and Collection

• MoMA Print Archive: Initiated by Bourgeois in 1990.
  • She donated all her prints and pledged future works.
  • Resulted in a comprehensive collection of about 3,000 prints.
• Curator's Role: Deborah Wye's long-term involvement in archiving and curating Bourgeois' work.

Conclusion

• The exhibition and accompanying catalog highlight the significance of printmaking in Bourgeois' oeuvre and provide a valuable resource for study and exhibition of her work.