Louise Bourgeois: Femme (2005)

Femme, 2005
Fabric, glass, stainless steel and wood
24.7 x 35.5 x 14.6 cm / 9 3/4 x 14 x 5 3/4 in

Photo: Christopher Burke

Bourgeois maintained the presence of childhood trauma in her work, even toward the end of her life. It's amazing, when you think of it, just how important childhood can be (should be?) in determining the enduring course of our adult lives.

Comments

[Kristen]

I have been thinking about you a lot lately. Life has become a treadmill - not much incline but the speed is up to a million. Hey - I could make a concept piece out of that. I agree with you, and respect the basis of Bourgeois' work; there is nothing more important than children, no matter whose they are - and childhood is as important as any element of mortal life, if not more so. This is why families are so fundamental, it is the basis for the practice of marriage - to escort children into this trial, this visit to insanity, to be building their tools from the very beginning so that they might be equipped to find and maintain joy while they are here. That's what adults are actually for. (Laughing) And here we thought it was all about us.