Ron Mueck

Venue: NGV International, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Dates:22 Jan - 18 Apr 2010
Cost: Adult $15.00 / Concession $12.00 / Children $7.50 / Member $7.50
Unlimited entry tickets also available.

 

Click on the images for a larger view

Coming home

Although he's now a big name on the international art scene and his works regularly appear in galleries in the UK, US and Europe, Ron Mueck remains a product of Australia. With the opening this month of a major exhibition of his work at the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne-born prodigal son returns home.

Known for his extraordinarily life-like (and larger-than-life) creations, the exhibition will feature twelve sculptures by Mueck including four new works. This will be the largest and most comprehensive Mueck exhibition ever to be held in Australia.

According to NGV Deputy Director Frances Lindsay, “Since his dramatic entry onto the international art stage, Mueck has continued to astound audiences with his realistic, figurative sculptures and now occupies a unique and important place in the field of international contemporary art.”

David Hurlston, Curator Australian Art, said Ron Mueck’s poignant sculptures illustrate timeless human conditions from birth to demise. “Mueck’s sculptures range from puckish portrayals of childhood innocence to acute observations of stages of life; from birth to adolescence, middle and old age, and even death. Many are solitary figures, psychological portraits of emotional intensity and of isolation,” said Mr Hurlston.

In bed 2005
polyester resin, fibreglass, polyurethane, horse hair, cotton, second edition, artist's proof
161.9 x 649.9 x 395.0 cm
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane (Purchased, Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, 2008)

The exhibition will draw from Australian and international collections, highlights include: Mask II 2001/02, Man in a boat(2002), Old woman in bed (2000/02), Wild man (2005), Two women (2005), In bed (2005), and through the generosity of a private collector from the United States, the iconic work Dead Dad (1996/97).

In addition to these there will be a number of new works created specifically for this exhibition which will be unveiled for the first time in Melbourne.

In his early career, Mueck worked as a puppet maker (including working on the film Labyrinth), however since 1997 he has been entirely devoted to making sculpture. In 1996, he was ‘discovered’ by British advertising guru Charles Saatchi, who included Mueck’s Dead Dad as part of the history-making Sensation exhibition the following year.

Mueck went on to represent Australia at the 2001 Venice Biennale, capturing worldwide attention for his 4.5 metre sculpture, Crouching Boy. Since then, he has become one of the most significant figures in the contemporary art world.

Mueck’s work is currently held in the collections of Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, McClelland Gallery and Queensland Art Gallery.

Ron Mueck will be on display at NGV International on St Kilda Road from 22 January until 18 April 2010; and will then be touring to the Queensland Art Gallery from 8 May until 8 August 2010 and to Christchurch Art Gallery from 30 September until 23 January 2011.

David Edwards