American-born French artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois (born 1911) has been a highly respected name in the art world for more than seven decades. She is often counted among the greatest female artists of all time. One of Louise’s most powerful creations is the massive “Maman” sculpture, which for twelve years has been among the largest and most impressive sculptures in the world. Bourgeois created “Maman” as part of her inaugural The Unilever Series commission in 1999 for the Tate Modern Museum’s grand Turbine Hall. The acquisition of this magnificent sculpture is considered one of the historical moments of the Tate Museum. “Mom” was first exhibited outside London’s Tate Museum in 2000. It was met with mixed reactions of amazement and amusement.

The “Mama” sculpture is a 30-foot (9-meter) tall female spider made of stainless steel. It is black in color and has a sac under her belly in which she carries 26 pure white marble eggs. Long, thin legs support the spider’s small body. The sculpture exudes elegance throughout. While constructing the sculpture, Bourgeois paid careful attention to details, such as the placement and finish of the spider’s legs, to achieve a well-balanced structure.

A work of ‘Symbolism’ focused on the complications of relationships, although the giant arachnid seems threatening; however, the eggs she holds in her belly give her a sense of vulnerability. The way she seems to cling to her eggs demonstrates her protective maternal instincts. The authoritative size of the spider is intimidating, yet intriguing. Bourgeois gave “Maman” a playful and mystical character. She exudes an emotional power over the subconscious. To some it may seem like a magical creature, accidentally stepped out of a fairy tale, while others find its haunting presence like an old abandoned memory of pain or fear.

Louise created “Maman” in memory of her mother. Bourgeois’s mother was a weaver and ran a tapestry restoration business. Bourgeois felt that the egg-carrying spider was a suitable metaphorical symbol for his mother, as it displayed a character of strength and nurturing. She believed, like her mother, that spiders are friendly and protective creatures, since they eat insects that cause disease. Several bronze casts of the fantastic “Maman” adorn various museums, such as the Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao, Spain), the Samsung Art Museum (Seoul, Korea), the Mori Art Center (Tokyo, Japan), the Garden of Tuileries (Paris, France), and the National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa, Canada). The next bronze cast of “Maman” will be placed in Des Moines, Iowa in August 2009.