I LOVE Ron Mueck. I think he is amazing. I could look at his sculptures all day. Just so perfect. Slightly disturbing at times, but still perfect. Each hair follicle, wrinkle, fold of skin just so realistic. The way he changes the scale of things. Making life size figures larger than life or smaller than life….and so to come to his home town and find an exhibition currently on of his work was brilliant.
Take for example his poignant work of art “Dead Dad” which first brought him to the attention of the international artworld. A teeny weeny replica of his own father – about the size of an arm (102cm long). We peered at it today at his exhibition in The National Gallery of Victoria and my son said “was his dad really that small?”….
“A Girl”. A massively over-scale representation of a newly born baby, five metres in length. Complete with umbilical cord and covered in blood:-
“Woman With Sticks” a little tiny woman, inexplicably naked carrying a bundle of twigs….she looks determined and unquestioning as she carries her back breaking messy package god knows where – perhaps just a simple look at what we have to carry with us through life – actually she’s looking pretty cheerful about it all:-
“Man In Boat”. He is about the same size as “Woman With Sticks” and perhaps, once again it just sums up confusion and vulnerability on life’s journey. He’s certainly got a “where the f*ck am I going” look about him, with an obvious acceptance that he isn’t going to be able to take himself in a specific direction:-
“Boy Wonder”, another beautiful teeny weeny specimin. This time with a tragic message about knife culture and violence. He looks so shocked at the wound that has been inflicted on him:-
“Old Woman In Bed”. I find this one very touching but depressing…
“Mask II” a huge incredibly realistic face with an empty shell at the back which is very disconcerting:-
You must go and see a Ron Mueck exhibition – even if it means flying out to Melbourne before the 18th April 2010.
12 Comments
Never heard of Ron Mueck but these are amazing sculptures.
Thanks Jon and sorry my trip is making you travel sick…..Lx
They are amazing … but I find them rather creepy!
I find those images disturbing, rather than interesting, but they do provoke thought.
Very envious of your Oz trip. I spent a few years living there as a sprog, and my Dad is currently in Darwin, and about to move to Perth.
If it makes you feel even better, it’s raining here. Hard. And it’s blooming cold.
I have heard it’s cold and rainy with hints of snow even!!! Nightmare. Time to pop over to help your dad move to Perth? Lx
unbelievable! first one hit hard. father in law just died. AMAZING sculptures. they are SO real! feh! glad oz is treating you good! lots love xxx j
Oh thats sad for you and Craig. Sorry Lx
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I really love going back to your site to read your story and see more pictures that are really taken with great care. . . . . .
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.
plz help me … give me any idea about what he is showing in his Mask 2 scalp?
no, sorry – it was too long ago to remember x