This book provides a comprehensive overview of the fabric works from the last two decades in the career of legendary artist Louise Bourgeois. "I've always had a fascination with the needle," she said, "the magic power of the needle. The needle is used to repair damage. It's a claim to forgiveness." This body of work began when the artist started incorporating clothes from all stages of her life into her art, and later expanded to include a range of other textiles such as bedlinen, handkerchiefs, tapestry, and needlepoint. The fabric works mine the themes of identity and sexuality, trauma and memory, guilt and reparation, and serve as metaphors for emotional and psychological states. The catalog - which accompanies the exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London and the Gropius Bau, Berlin - features works from numerous series, including the monumental Cell installations, figurative sculptures, and abstract drawings.

The official anthem of the European Union, heard at numerous political, cultural and public sporting events, is the 'Ode to Joy' melody from the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a true 'empty signifier' that can stand for anything," begins noted theorist Slavoj Zizek in his essay for this well-designed artist's book in which the American and Cuban Conceptual artist collaborators Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla present their reflections on this ubiquitous masterwork. Modified classical instruments, scribbled musical notations, Nazi concerts, historical Turkish musical groups, the pope, Communist propaganda and other archival images are used to great effect."