Ron Mueck at Fine Arts in Houston Exhibit

1. MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
HOUSTON: RON MUECK
Katherine Negrete
August 14, 2017

2. ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Ron Mueck (Feb. 26, 2017 - August 13,2017)
• Audrey Jones Beck Building
• 5601 Main St, Houston, TX 77005
• Adult Tickets: $18.00 each
• The Exhibition contained nudity

3. ABOUT THE ARTIST
The artist from the sculptures was called Ron
Mueck. Mueck was born in Melbourne, Australia
in 1958. The sculptures in the Museum of Fine
Arts are from his career from 1999 to 2013.
Mueck builds his sculptures carefully by hand in
clay, however, he does use other materials. Due
to his fathers passing, he came up with his
sculpture called “Dead Dad” (1997), which was
the first sculpture that caught public attention.
He spends various days, sometimes even years
creating each of his sculptures. He was raised in
his family’s business of puppetry and toy-
making.

4. UNTITLED (SEATED WOMAN) (1999)
• After “Dead Dad” (1997), Ron Mueck continues his art of mortality with “Seated Woman” (1999).
• When entering the art exhibit, the Seated Woman is the first sculpture seen.
• Can catch anyone’s attention due to the many details on her face and body during her old age.
• Many wrinkles on her face and very tired looking eyes.
• The woman is seated with her head leaning forward looking sad.
• Her skin is very pale and she can be seen about close to the end of her life.

6. YOUNG COUPLE (2013)
• The second sculpture viewed when entering the exhibit.
• Young couple was made to portray the intensity of first love.
• The boy appears to be possessive and protective of the girl due to him grabbing her wrist very tightly.
• The girls other arm is pressed into her thigh looking like she’s scared or nervous.
• The boy seems to be trying to comfort her from the front, but the back says differently.
• It feels like Mauck is trying to show that relationships aren’t always what they seem to be.

8. MASK II (2001-2002)
• The third sculpture seen in the exhibit.
• The humongous head of a man who seems to be in a deep sleep.
• Has a very detailed face (Scrunched up eyebrows and open mouth from possible drooling)
• Ron Mueck’s most celebrated work are his masks.
• Fully modeled on the front and hollow at the back.
• His skin slides downward into the item used for support.
• The self-portrait of Ron Mueck.

10. TWO WOMEN (2005)
• Two elderly women standing apart that seem to be united too because of their sideways glances.
• Very detailed attire and facial features (Wrinkles).
• A very vivid way in which Mueck portrays the querulous demeanor and the slightly bent stance of these
strong-willed women.
• Astonishing description of an elderly woman.
• Both have long coats which can be due to the cold.

12. CROUCHING BOY IN MIRROR (1999-2002)
• Young boy who appears to be in underpants only.
• Is looking at himself in the mirror.
• Mueck portrays the self-consciousness a young
person faces when growing.
• Growing awareness of sexuality and identity.
• Very much enjoy the mirror because you can see
what it’s like for a young man or woman when
feeling self-conscious during their teen years.
• Ron Mueck continues to show his interest in
adolescence.

13. MAN IN A BOAT (2002)
• Created during Ron Mueck’s tenure as Artist Associate at the National Gallery, London.
• Mueck reimagines the theme of Diego Velasquez’s “The Immaculate Conception (1618-1619)”, using an
actual boat.
• The man seems to be naked, while looking around.
• Seems to be focused on something and trying to figure out more about it because of his crossed arms.
• Very pale and maybe middle-aged.
• The size of the boat makes the man look smaller.

15. MAN IN BLANKETS (2000)
• Seems to be an infant from afar, but when you
are closer it is definitely a man.
• Reminder of the cycle of life and death.
• The man seems to be trying to comfort himself in
the blankets.
• He looks very peaceful.

16. COUPLE UNDER AN UMBRELLA (2013)
• Vacationing by the sea was popular in the 20th century, which inspired Mueck to do this sculpture.
• The couple seem to be very affectionate and “in love”.
• The old man is resting on his elderly lady’s leg.
• Seem to be having a great time under the sun.
• Mueck captures every sign of aging.
• Mueck emphasizes the strength and complexity of partnerships over time.

18. WOMAN WITH SHOPPING (2013)
• Ron Mueck caught sight of a woman on the street
corner, with bags on each hand and an infant
under her coat and decided to sketch her.
• Converted it into a sculpture in the following
year.
• The woman appears to be tired, however, still
seems to be moving forward.
• She looks young and strong.

19. YOUTH (2009)
• This theme was suggested by “Still Life”, also in the exhibition.
• An image that is present to this day.
• The boy has a blood stain on his shirt, his pants are unbelted.
• He has low-rise jeans revealing his briefs.
• He seems to be showing a stab wound.
• Mueck is portraying urban violence and danger.
• The wound echoes the wound Christ suffered during his crucifixion.

20. MOTHER AND CHILD (2001-2003)
• Mueck was fascinated by a 15th century “Madonna and Child in an Interior” from Robert Campin.
• Mueck’s first sculpture to pair two figures.
• You can see an exhausted mother and her newborn child on her chest.
• Amazing description of how a new mother feels when she sees her child.
• The mother looks very tired and her arms are on her sides while watching her newborn.

22. STILL LIFE (2009)
• Mueck presents a chicken hanging upside down
from a string.
• Is understood as a sacrificial image, with specific
reference to crucifixion.
• Mueck renders his subject with realism,
capturing the distinct texture of plucked and
slashed skin, as well as the pull of gravity and
the absence of life.

23. A GIRL (2006)
• Newborn baby girl still with blood on her head and body.
• Her skin is identical to a real-life infant’s skin.
• Her whole body represents new life.
• Her eyes are still watery from the crying after being born.
• It looks like her face represents her first time opening her eyes.
• She still has her umbilical cord.

25. RON MUECK’S OTHER ARTWORK NOT
DISPLAYED IN THE EXHIBIT

26. IMTERPRETATION
Ron Mueck is more into realistic figures. He prefers to make them bigger or smaller
than life size figures. He prefers anything than life size figures because he believes
that you can see a life size figure anywhere. He uses many more materials than just
clay.

27. JUDGEMENT
Ron Mueck’s sculpture’s were very astonishing and very worth viewing. I enjoyed
every second of it. There were times when I though someone was starring at me and
when I’d turn to look it would be a sculpture. His artwork was very detailed and
simply amazing. Everything was very realistic and beautiful. I had never been to a
museum of art before, but I definitely enjoyed my first time. Ron Mueck’s artwork was
something I would love to keep up with.

28. REFERENCE
• Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.