Louise Bourgeois' art as queer performance

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1649726 (Table of Contents)

This thesis offers an examination of the works of French artist Louise Bourgeois through the lenses of gender, queer and performance. One of the most well-known female artists of the 20th century, Bourgeois is known with detailed her explanations on her works. This research considers the works of the artist, her actions and her discourse alongside the works, as an entire performative act, and examines her performance in relation with feminist thinker Judith Butler’s performative notions in gender theory. The works shown in this thesis feature an idea of gender ambiguity and an almost-queer identity. Among the works examined are a portrait of the artist by Robert Mapplethorpe, a photo-text titled Child Abuse, an installation titled Destruction of the Father, sculptures titled Janus Fleuri, Nature Study and Maman, and two documentaries on the artist. This thesis shows that Bourgeois’ work and her artistic persona provides a way to think about a different and a more liberal idea of gender and identity.