Ron Mueck's Sculpture and Humanisim

Mask II (2002) Ron Mueck

A Girl (2006) Ron Mueck

1. Mueck's sculpture is described as 'hyper-real'. Define the meaning of this term and apply it to his work.

Hyperrealism is the term to describe sculpture as well as photography that is quite similar to that of a high resolution photograph. The reason it compares to a high resolution photograph is because the detail is incredibly fine and complete. Ron Mueck uses hyper realism in a way to shock and impress in a rather disgusting way. In 'A Girl' Mueck depicts a newborn child that appears dead and mutated. We see every detail of this gruesome sculpture because of how Mueck has used hyper realism.

2. Mueck 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.

As explained in the question above. Mueck uses hyper realism in sculpture in way to sicken his viewers. When Mueck makes sculpture so large as he does it is just another way inwhich he can disgust his audience. His work has been refered to work without flaw, but this does not mean in anyway is it flawless. Two works in which he uses large or smaller scale include;

Pregnant Woman (2002) Ron Mueck

Two Women (2005) Ron Mueck

3. Define Renaissance Humanism , and analyze the term in order to apply it to an example of Mueck's work. Note that the contemporary definition of Humanism is much broader than the Renaissance definition.

Humanism, which became first popular in the renaissance period, depicts to us how the world was viewed for the 'humanists' at the time. Humanism is the idea that instead of art work such as sculpture and painting be for the church it was more about the people. This was, of course, going against what the church wanted because they thought that all work should be non secular.
We can relate Humanism to Mueck's work because he does not make any references to the Church as focuses solely on the people in his work themselves. Obviously, the art work that is referred to in this day and age as humanistic can be quite more dramatic then what those living in the renaissance were referring to as humanism.

Spooning Couple (2005) Ron Mueck

As we can see in the work pictured above, this piece of work has nothing to do with the church. Nor does it have anything to do with the movements in which Humanism was going against such as Scholasticisim and other such things that were trying to repress the freedom of speech in people. 'Spooning Couple' (2005) not only is it full of laviciousness but is expressing that certain quality of Humanism to a full extent.

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, upload an image of the work, and explain your personal response to the work

Mother and Child (2001) Ron Mueck

The above picture is a sculpture done by Ron Mueck in 2001 and depicts a woman with her newly born baby resting on her stomache. The reason I personally find this challenging to see, more so would I in a gallery, is because quite clearly the baby had been born from this woman moments before, as the placenta and umbilical cord are all still intact and connected. This is using something that is perfectly nautral to the course of life and by placing it somewhere like a gallery making it grotesque and pornographic. However whilst saying this seeing this scultpture would be like seeing a car crash or something. Hard to see but impossible to look away from.


Reasons to Visit Ron Mueck Exhibition (2005)
http://www.suite101.com/content/four-reasons-to-visit-a-ron-mueck-exhibition-a333516

Hyper Realism Sculptures by Ron Mueck (2007)
http://www.creativityfuse.com/2010/11/hyperrealist-sculptures-by-ron-mueck/

Ron Mueck Biography (2005)
http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/bio_e.jsp?iartistid=25104

Humanism (2004)
http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/humanism.html

Barbara Kruger

'I Shop Therefore I am' (1987) Barbara Kruger

'Face It(Green)' (2007) Barbara Kruger


1. Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works.

Kruger uses a style very similar to that of Andy Warhol. She uses block writing and images to get across a point in which is clear cut and simple. In a word we could call her word very much commercial.

2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?

Messages that she portrays are extremely bold and daring. Type such as 'Your Body Is A Battleground' is a daring take on Kruger's idea of what abortion is and her view on it, which is a negative one, Kruger is known for her extreme femminist views. Another unconventional work is her famous 'Untitled (Questions)' inwhich she uses the American flag as a base and then places type over the top asking questions such as 'Who is free to choose?' ,'Who laughs last?' ,'Who dies first?'

3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.

They are a contreversial propaganda designed to force an idea on the viewer, because of their bold message. The obviousness of this is very hard to miss, which is why the messages are indeed effective. Reviews of her have been quoted saying 'Kruger's word confronts and questions dominant society.' In other words putting us up to seeing something we have being avoiding. She has greatly influenced the art industry because of the hype around her messages.

4. Define the concept of Mercantillism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.

Kruger believes that we live in an materialistic world, as we very much do. The featured images read 'I Shop Therefore I am' and 'Face It' both of these texts are referring to how our worlds are so obsessed with how we look and with owning things that we are forgetting what is important. Kruger is showing her usual style of taking an idea we do not like to face up to, putting it as bluntly as possible and forcing us to think about it. Mercantillism is all to do with the want and need for having and keeping material possessions and, more importantly, money. This images connect with that concept because they are both about the want for those two things.
When Mercantillism was popular during and around the renaissance. It was the idea that a country could benefit from importing goods into their nation and keeping them without exporting their own goods. This plan, obviously,was very much flawed as there was no circulation of the economy. We can relate this to Kruger's work as she sees people buying for their own materialistic gain and this is what relates her work to Mercantillism and Mercantillists had a similar idea of personal gain through materillistic gain.

5. Upload a more recent example of Kruger's work where she has used a new medium, that is not graphic design. Title your image of the chosen work and comment on your response to the work. How do you think the audience would experience this work?

This piece is titled 'Chess Set' and has been designed by Barbara Kruger. This piece is extremely ironic for her because it itself costs US$30,000, and Kruger claims to not be materialistic. The reason for the cost behind the piece is because the chess pieces themselves actually speak. I think that the audience would respond similarly to how I myself have, thinking it is an ironic piece for her to have created.
The talking Chess Set inwhich I have chosen has chess pieces that actually speak to you, apparently, these pieces taunt your apponent into making certain moves trying to throw each of the chess players off their game. The chess set is all had constructed and features 3 intergrated computers. Another one by Kruger with the intend to amaze her audience with art of a ridculous nature.

References.

The Barbara Kruger Biography (2003)
www.barbarakruger.com/biography.shtml

Barbara Kruger - Signs of Postmodernity (1999)
www.wdog.com/rider/writings/real_kruger.htm

Collection On Barbara Kruger (2002)
www.leftmatrix.com/krugerlist.html