1. Mueck's sculpture is described as 'hyper-real'. Define the meaning of this term and explain how it is evident in his work.
The term hyper-real, or hyper realism, refers to visual art which results in convincing illusions of reality based upon photographic images/real life. The definition from thefreedictonary.com and other dictionary sites is: involving or characterized by particularly realistic graphic representation/creating a hyper reality.
In Mueck’s work, hyper realism is evident. The sculptures of people that he has recreated are extremely detailed and have amazing attention to detail in each area resulting in a highly realistic look. This detail is best seen in the wrinkles, skin lines/curves and folds, and especially in the facial areas. The main, if only fact that departs his work from realism is the sizes of his works. They are either much larger, or much smaller than what they should be if they were real.
2. Mueck says he is not interested in making life size sculpture. Find out why he is more interested in working with the scale of the figure which is not life size, and mention 2 works which use scale that is either larger or smaller than life.
The main unrealistic fact about Mueck’s works is that they are of unrealistic size. When asked he was quoted saying “I never made life-size figures because it never seemed to be interesting. We meet life-size people every day.” When talking about the size he was also quoted saying “It makes you take notice in a way that you wouldn’t do with something that is just normal.” This means he is more interested in changing the way you look at normal things in life, examples of this are shown in the following images.
‘Untitled (Big Man) 2000.’ This work of Mueck’s is just over two meters tall, much bigger than it would be if it was to a realistic scale. It is of a big, overweight man sitting in a corner. The main details that are seen when viewing the work is in the feet and toes where there is extreme attention to detail with the wrinkles, creases, toenails etc. If the scale of this work was realistic, this view would have been lost and the detail unexplored.
‘Two Women, 2005’ This work is about 85cm tall, much smaller than it would be if was in realistic scale. The sculpture is of two older women standing, sort of leaning or hunching over as old people do. They both have the usual old peoples, unhappy with the world/skeptical of everything around them expression on there faces. The smaller scale makes you interpret the work as more of a description, making it easier to explore the women as a description of women then just people.
3. Define Renaissance Humanism , and identify which aspects of Humanism can be seen in Mueck's work.
Renaissance Humanism was a cultural movement, born from around the 14th- 15th century. It was inspired by classical texts from the ancient Greeks and Romans, offering a different view on life. Renaissance Humanism puts aside religious beliefs and focuses on humans and there values/achievements. Some aspects of this movement can be identified when looking into Mueck’s work. When Mueck’s sculptures people, the realistic details he focuses on portrays the subjects as human beings, however imperfect or unbeautiful they are. He doesn’t try and show them as something else such as a super human, or a god, or anything else they aren’t. He includes everything including the extreme emotions/facial expressions being shown, and details that you wouldn’t normally look for/ask to see.
4. Research and discuss one of Mueck's sculptures that you might find challenging or exciting to experience in an art gallery. Describe the work
‘In Bed, 2005’ This work of Mueck’s is massive, about 6.5 meters long, 4 meters wide and about 1.5 meters high. It is of a woman, lying in bed with her head resting on a pillow and her knees up. The woman has her hands out of the bed with one covering her mouth. I reckon this piece would be exciting to experience in real life because of the size. In the picture shown you can see a girl sitting on a chair next to the piece which gives you an idea of how big it really is. I would also love to experience the emotions the girl is expressing as she lies there. Her facial expressions make her look worried, as if a week ago she got the news that she has cancer and is just sitting there, waiting to die.
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ron_mueck/
http://sunseven.hubpages.com/hub/Awesome_Sculptures_Of_Ron_Mueck
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreality_(art)
http://www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag03/jul_aug03/mueck/mueck.shtml
From reading this i have learned more than i had researching it myself, i like how you described the expression on her face as one that would say she had got the news that she has cancer and is just sitting there, waiting to die. did you notice that the expression on the women's faces in the sculpture "Two Women" not only resemble ordinary old angry women, but also give of a feeling that they are analysing you, rather than you analysing them as a sculpture? as if you were the sculpture/subject matter, and they were the viewer.
ReplyDeleteArlo its clear to see you have done exstensive research into Ron Muecks work. Was a good read as you information gave me a higher understand of the questions, so thanks for that.
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