Ron Mueck's lifelike sculptures

Artist Ron Mueck captures the burdens of women and the anxieties of adolescence in his sculptures.

Man in a Boat (2002) features a naked man sitting cross-legged in a small wooden boat without oars. The vast surrounding space emphasizes loneliness and uncertainty.

Mueck's works, exhibited in South Korea from 11/4 to 13/7, captivated audiences with their lifelike detail. This renewed interest in the artist and his oeuvre.

Pictured is Ghost (1998), a sculpture of an unusually large teenage girl with downcast eyes. According to STIRworld, Mueck magnifies the emotional weight of puberty through the sculpture's size, mirroring the turmoil of the character's inner world.

Young Couple (2013) depicts two figures in an intimate interaction. However, the woman's distant gaze conveys tension, while the man's posture suggests control.

Man in a Boat (2002) features a naked man sitting cross-legged in a small wooden boat without oars. The vast surrounding space emphasizes loneliness and uncertainty.

In Woman with Sticks (2009), a woman carries a bundle of firewood, her face grimacing, her body bent. STIRworld interprets the figure as a symbol of women's continuous struggle and resilience against burdens.

Young Couple (2013) depicts two figures in an intimate interaction. However, the woman's distant gaze conveys tension, while the man's posture suggests control.

Artist Ron Mueck prepares for an exhibition in Milan in 2023. Video: Foundationcartier

Woman with Shopping (2013) portrays a mother carrying a baby and shopping bags, representing women in the hustle of urban life. Overwhelmed by work, her face shows exhaustion.

Artsper Magazine describes Mueck's sculptures as everyday images, reminiscent of mothers and grandmothers, evoking strong emotions. His characters carry their own stories, open to interpretation.

Ron Mueck working on a sculpture. Photo: Espoarte

In Woman with Sticks (2009), a woman carries a bundle of firewood, her face grimacing, her body bent. STIRworld interprets the figure as a symbol of women's continuous struggle and resilience against burdens.

In Chicken/Man (2019), an old man clutches his hands while looking at a chicken, creating a humorous image that also hints at underlying pressures.

According to Artsper Magazine, Mueck's work is visually striking, exploring contrasts: large figures appear vulnerable, while smaller ones exude strength.

Couple Under an Umbrella (2013) portrays a couple on the beach.

Ron Mueck, 67, born in Melbourne, Australia, began his career creating models and puppets for children's television. After moving to England in 1986, he developed his unique artistic style. He is renowned for his hyperrealistic human sculptures, varying in scale, expressing universal themes of loneliness and death. He has exhibited in London (England), Sydney (Australia), New York (USA), and Ottawa (Canada).