The Maman Statue, Ottawa
Maman is an impressive sculpture created by Louise Bourgeois, a renowned artist. Made from bronze, stainless steel, and marble, the artwork represents a spider and is considered one of the largest sculptures in the world. Its towering size measures over 30 feet in height and more than 33 feet in width. The sculpture features a sac containing 32 marble eggs, while its abdomen and thorax are crafted from ribbed bronze.
The title, "Maman," is derived from the familiar French word for "Mother" and shares similarities with the English word "Mummy." Louise Bourgeois created this sculpture in 1999 as part of The Unilever Series (2000), her inaugural commission for the Turbine Hall at London's Tate Modern. The original piece was made of steel, and subsequently, six additional castings were produced in bronze. Bourgeois selected the Modern Art Foundry for the casting process due to its reputation and expertise.
The sculpture of Maman builds upon Bourgeois' longstanding fascination with arachnids, which she first explored in a small ink and charcoal drawing in 1947. This theme continued with her 1996 sculpture titled "Spider." Through the artwork, Bourgeois incorporates metaphors of spinning, weaving, nurturing, and protection, symbolizing the strength of her mother. Josephine, Bourgeois' mother, was a skilled tapestry repairer in her father's textile restoration workshop in Paris. When Bourgeois was twenty-one years old, her mother passed away from an unknown illness.
The title, "Maman," is derived from the familiar French word for "Mother" and shares similarities with the English word "Mummy." Louise Bourgeois created this sculpture in 1999 as part of The Unilever Series (2000), her inaugural commission for the Turbine Hall at London's Tate Modern. The original piece was made of steel, and subsequently, six additional castings were produced in bronze. Bourgeois selected the Modern Art Foundry for the casting process due to its reputation and expertise.
The sculpture of Maman builds upon Bourgeois' longstanding fascination with arachnids, which she first explored in a small ink and charcoal drawing in 1947. This theme continued with her 1996 sculpture titled "Spider." Through the artwork, Bourgeois incorporates metaphors of spinning, weaving, nurturing, and protection, symbolizing the strength of her mother. Josephine, Bourgeois' mother, was a skilled tapestry repairer in her father's textile restoration workshop in Paris. When Bourgeois was twenty-one years old, her mother passed away from an unknown illness.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ottawa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
The Maman Statue on Map
Sight Name: The Maman Statue
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ottawa, Canada (See walking tours in Ottawa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ottawa, Canada
Create Your Own Walk in Ottawa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ottawa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The architecture of Ottawa 鈥� formalistic and functional, for the most part 鈥� is marked by the city's role as the national capital of Canada. As such, it represents a mix of styles, varying considerably based on the era of construction of any particular object, and reflects the nation's heritage and political significance.
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Centermost among these structures is the Parliament... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Ottawa Introduction Walking Tour
The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word for trade. It is an appropriate name for the Ottawa River, which was once the primary trade route for Eastern Canada. The capital of Canada gets its name from this river due to its location. Resting on the banks of the Ottawa River, Ottawa is a political and cultural city that also offers outdoor activities and beautiful natural sights.
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ottawa was... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Statues and Sculptures Walk
As a cultural city, Ottawa abounds in monuments and statues of various sorts. In fact, there are so many of them that the locals, accustomed to their presence, jokingly claim they hardly notice them at all. Still, these artistic creations serve as visual storytellers, sharing tales of courage, peacekeeping, and commemoration.
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
The Maman Statue, a prominent sculpture located outside the National... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Ottawa's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The city of Ottawa has a number of notable religious sites fit to spark interest in both ardent believers and those keen on ecclesiastical architecture. With most of the churches located in the downtown area or nearby, one can visit these locations without trouble.
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, a splendid Gothic Revival masterpiece, is a centerpiece of Ottawa's spiritual landscape.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles