ONE WORD FOR IT - FABULOUS
Early in 2005, when I came back after work to see my Mother at dinner time, in the afternoon she had been to the Cartier Foundation to see Ron Mueck. She handed me a post card and said "What do you think?" I gasped
«But it’s François.....» a departed friend. It couldn’t be true......
I rushed off to see Ron Mueck the following weekend.
Mueck was born in Melbourne in 1958 to parents of German origin. His hobby became his career. He was already 38 when a replica of his father’s naked body propelled him into the world of contemporary art. Mueck’s exhibitions are few and far between. The documentary I saw this time showed how meticulous he is not to mention his hyperrealism and precision. All his sculptures have a sense of reality that is often moving or even disturbing. Every time I have seen his work be it at the Venise Biennale, in Australia or here in Paris, it wouldn’t have surprised me at all if one of them, any of them, had opened his/her mouth and said «hello Maggie». Skin, hair, nails, eyes, the regard - all seems to be real.
When I was in Perth, I thought I saw a Ron Mueck sculpture in the MAM. It wasn’t. The attendant saw me staring at it and I remarked that I thought it was a Mueck «Who’s that?» she said. I was very surprised and added at once that it was a Melbourne born sculptor now living in London. «Never heard of him», she added « but then we don’t follow too many foreign artists. As if Melbourne was foreign.
I went to the opening of the second exhibition here in Paris . It had taken three weeks to put into place with some 8 sculptures. In marvelous space of course. You walk around them.......scrutinizing nails, hair, skin, wrinkles to find out where the flaw could be. I found none.....
I’m sure you have seen these people on the beach?
Perhaps this young couple in the street?
I hope you haven’t seen this youth who represents too well our world today....
..
And this is surely Ron Mueck’s mask - asleep - don’t wake him..
but you may prefer to join him on his mattress - oh sorry, it was on the wall......
However, unless you have done this yourself, I doubt if it is a typical everyday picture....
I had arrived early and left after the documentary two hours later. The crowds were there. The exhibition in 2005 was the best ever for the Foundation. This one too will break records I’m sure. It was fabulous!
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| In Bed 2005 |
«But it’s François.....» a departed friend. It couldn’t be true......
 |
| In Bed 2005 |
I rushed off to see Ron Mueck the following weekend.
Mueck was born in Melbourne in 1958 to parents of German origin. His hobby became his career. He was already 38 when a replica of his father’s naked body propelled him into the world of contemporary art. Mueck’s exhibitions are few and far between. The documentary I saw this time showed how meticulous he is not to mention his hyperrealism and precision. All his sculptures have a sense of reality that is often moving or even disturbing. Every time I have seen his work be it at the Venise Biennale, in Australia or here in Paris, it wouldn’t have surprised me at all if one of them, any of them, had opened his/her mouth and said «hello Maggie». Skin, hair, nails, eyes, the regard - all seems to be real.
When I was in Perth, I thought I saw a Ron Mueck sculpture in the MAM. It wasn’t. The attendant saw me staring at it and I remarked that I thought it was a Mueck «Who’s that?» she said. I was very surprised and added at once that it was a Melbourne born sculptor now living in London. «Never heard of him», she added « but then we don’t follow too many foreign artists. As if Melbourne was foreign.
I went to the opening of the second exhibition here in Paris . It had taken three weeks to put into place with some 8 sculptures. In marvelous space of course. You walk around them.......scrutinizing nails, hair, skin, wrinkles to find out where the flaw could be. I found none.....
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| Couple under an umbrella 2013 for this exhibition |
I’m sure you have seen these people on the beach?
Or this hanging in your butcher’s shop ?  |
| Still Life 2009 |
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| Young Couple 2013 |
Perhaps this young couple in the street?
 |
| Youth 2009 |
I hope you haven’t seen this youth who represents too well our world today....
..
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| Mask ll - 2001 |
And this is surely Ron Mueck’s mask - asleep - don’t wake him..
but you may prefer to join him on his mattress - oh sorry, it was on the wall......
 |
| Drift 2009 |
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| Looking out into the garden at the Foundation |
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| Woman with Sticks 2009 |
I had arrived early and left after the documentary two hours later. The crowds were there. The exhibition in 2005 was the best ever for the Foundation. This one too will break records I’m sure. It was fabulous!
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