A GIANT spider sculpture is a highlight of a new nature-inspired art exhibition at Compton Verney Art Gallery – though perhaps not for arachnophobics.
Louise Bourgeois: Nature Study runs at the art gallery from July 6 until October 6 and will feature a range of work from an artist who is considered one of the true titans of contemporary art.
Spanning the hugely influential French American artist’s entire seven-decade long career, the exhibition features over 40 works – displayed across the galleries, collections, and landscape – in every medium she worked in.
The exhibition explores Bourgeois’ interest in the cycles of life and nature, with other recurring themes including memory, metamorphosis, motherhood, human relationships, and emotional release.
One of her iconic bronze spiders has been sited in front of the Georgian manor house, while elsewhere, visitors will encounter The Couple – an aluminium sculpture, suspended from the branches of an oak tree, which takes the form of two biomorphic figures in an endless embrace.
And inside the galleries, one of the first works visitors will encounter is Ode à la Bièvre. On loan from Tate, this multi-part fabric book pays homage to the Bièvre river, which was important to the artist in her youth. Bourgeois’ parents ran a tapestry restoration business – in which she participated – and the waters of the river were rich in tannins that aided the dyeing process of textiles.
The exhibition’s curator, Oli McCall, said:“This exhibition gives visitors to Compton Verney the chance to see over 40 works by one of the most important and influential artists of modern times. Louise Bourgeois was an artist of amazing versatility, which is something we can highlight at Compton Verney, by bringing together works made across the entirety of her extraordinary seven decades-long career, including several which may be new to UK audiences.
“The unique setting of Compton Verney, with our 120 acres of parkland, makes this the perfect venue for an exhibition exploring the ways in which Bourgeois was inspired by nature, and it is really exciting to be able to show a number of works in dialogue with our unique collections to highlight different facets of Bourgeois’ practice.”
Louise Bourgeois: Nature Study has been developed in collaboration with ARTIST ROOMS and The Easton Foundation, New York.
For more information visit https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/