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Louise Bourgeois’ Maman Spider at Roppongi Hills
The Maman spider sculpture by Louise Bourgeois is a famous landmark in Tokyo. You can find it under one of Tokyo’s tallest skyscrapers, Roppongi Hills. At 30 feet tall and 33 feet wide, it is tough to miss. It might not be the best place to meet someone who fears arachnids. But it is still a popular meeting spot. Some people, like myself, prefer to photograph it.
The first time I saw it, it creeped me out a little. After seeing it so many times, it’s not scary at all. It has become a part of the area. These days, it reminds me of one of the Martians from the H. G. Wells book, War of the Worlds. It is a fantastic piece of work with a lot of detail. From below, you can see twenty-six marble eggs inside its belly. There is nothing scary about it at all.
There are six more of these Maman spider sculptures around the world. And even if you fear eight-legged creatures, I doubt you’ll find them very scary after seeing them a few times! After all, the artist created them in honor of her mother. Spiders are like mothers, nurturers, and protectors of their young. Plus, they also weave and spin their homes. They are just like our mothers. And if that fails, try my idea. Think of them as Martians!
Where is Louise Bourgeois's Maman spider sculpture?
The spider is under the Roppongi Hills skyscraper in Roppongi. It is a short walk from Roppongi Station, on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya, and Toei Oedo Lines. Click here to see it on Google Maps.
Wrapping up
The photos here were from my fourth attempt at photographing the giant spider. A couple of them seem a little soft. That might be a result of the time of day. I went there relatively early in the morning. Some day, I’ll try again. Please come back to check those pictures out!
What gear did I use for these photos?
- Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lenses:
- Fujifilm XF10-24 mm F4 R OIS
- Fujifilm XF 16-55 mm F2.8 R LM WR
- Fujifilm XF 55-200 mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
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