National Gallery of Canada Ottawa: Maman and Its 32 Marble Eggs

National Gallery of Canada Ottawa is the place to look for Maman, Louise Bourgeois's memorable spider sculpture and its 32 marble eggs. It is in Ottawa, Canada's capital city; Ottawa lies at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River.

What is the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa?

The National Gallery of Canada is in Ottawa, Canada. For an independent explorer walking through the capital, its most distinctive detail in the supplied route material is Maman, the sculpture whose spider form carries a meaning very different from menace.

What is special about Maman at the National Gallery of Canada?

Maman is a sculpture by French sculptor Louise Bourgeois, created as a symbol of nurturing and protection. Despite the spider's ominous presence, the tour description connects it to Bourgeois's mother, who was a weaver and the centre of her home.

The detail worth seeking out is inside Maman's egg sac: 32 marble eggs are held there and protected by the sculpture. That combination—the spider, its symbolism, Bourgeois's connection to her mother, and the eggs—makes Maman the specific feature to notice at the National Gallery of Canada.

How can you encounter this Ottawa landmark on foot?

You can encounter Maman as one stop within Ottawa - The Wild Side, a route that brings the sculpture into a self-guided walk through Ottawa. To make the National Gallery of Canada and its 32 marble eggs part of your exploration, start with the Ottawa - The Wild Side route.