You are on page 1of 19
LAPIZ SPANISH / ENGLISH Portus estrena Uy . adifcio,y, en Pars ea “LaForce de PArt” revs el recente arte francés Portikus moves building, and, in Par El joven arte belga muestra “La Force de I’Art” reviews iF] una gran heterogeneidad current French art i ays 7 Young Belgian art shows great heterogeneity El hiperrelismo caracteriza la turbadora obra Evan Penny y Richard Stipl Hyperrealsm characterises the disturbing work of Ron Mueck, Evan Penny and Richard Stipl Douglas Gordon hace del video un género artistico noble 7, Douglas Gordon elevates video to a noble artistic genre La realidad y sus excesos ecosaReonteses Puede que haya alguien atrapado en ese cuerpo. Puede que esos ojos ‘que bilan pertenezcan a alguien vivo, o, peor aun a alguien muert, Pusde que ese hombre, esa mujer, ese no, estén dsecados. Puede {que no sea un estudio anatémico minucoso, sino un emma. ‘miento, Con todo, nos genera esa ansiedad menbida por tocar, rozar ‘su pelo, paar su rostro, sentir sus uas.. Y nos ahoca también aun eaxtraio juego de desplazamientosy girs ripidos, para comprobar si nos sigue con la mirada al moveenos, si respira cuando cree que no le ‘vermos, para verfcarsisentimes su mirada detrs, clavada en la es- ‘ald, como detectarfamas la de un vio. Puede que aquel cuerpo solo sea un cuerpo de cera, de arillao de ibra de vidrio la materia pod siosa con la ques fabricanartculs tan divers como kayaks, tablas ‘de surf, piscinas,seamentas de automeviles,atraciones para feria 0 toboganes para parquesinfantiles~. Combinada a veces con resina de polite, adds desilicana y coloracion, la fibra de vidrio puede si- ‘mular una blandura de carne y piel tan cereana e fatima como ordi- nara y vulgar. De lo edmico lo patetico, de lo obscenoa lo dco, de lo inquietante ato tiero ya veces, incluso de lo mis gtido a lo que contiene un pedazo de alma. El exceso de realidad tiene estos entra tesysalientes De resina de poliésteryfbra de vidrio estan hechos ls turistas, bedeles, limpiadoras y guardas de seguridad de Duane Hanson (Ale sandria, Minnesota, 1925 Boca Raton, Florida, 1996) Magistalmen- te caracterizas, nacen de las insatistacciones cotidianas y de las So ledades de una clase media norteamericana, pero también de un cierto tipo de humor De fibra de vidrio son asimismo las figuras de John de Andrea (Denver, Colorado, 1941), alas que aplica una serie ‘de vladuras de deo para conseguir un acabado que reproduce la ap riencia de la epidermis. De Andrea insiste en la figura femenina des ‘nuda joven y esplendorosa, con pelo natural, en una pose despreo- ‘cup € intima que el espectador puede observar con lascivia. Tl ‘ver més inguietantes en su verismo y en su desnudez, sus modelos respiran cansancio y sumisién. Ambos parten de un molde tomado irectamente del cuerpo, como haefa George Segal con sus figuras de acabado imperfecto, fantasmagdricas, misteriosas. Diferente, ‘aunque cercano en algunos puntos, es el mange cuerpo mis pis tio, y tal vez el mis terror, de fio y tieso que resulta. Comparte suthieratismo eon el de las figuras de museo de cera a veces en su see- «in del groteso los horroes, como sucede con algunas de las vis- nas figuras que forman parte de las insalaciones de los Kienhokz en una versiin més depurada, con los maniguies de Charles Ray 0 los conjuntos escutéries de Jake & Dinos Chapman. Con las avan- zaulastécnicas de efectos especiales, maguillae, animatronics y otros eality and its excesses ‘There may be someone trapped in that body. Perhaps those shiny eyes, helong to someone living of, even worse, to someone dead. Perma ‘that man, woman or child has heen stuffed, Perhaps these figures have not been used fora meticulous anatomical study, perhaps they hve heen embalmed, Nevertheless, they generate a morbid desire to touch them, stroke their hair, caress their face, fondle their mails... We feel compelled to move about, turing around quickly to seeifthey are following our movements with their eyes, if they breathe when they think we are not looking, to check whether we can fee their eyes ‘ticking into our backs, as we would if they were alive. Perhaps those bodies ane only made of was, clay or fibreglass the prodigious ‘material used to manufacture articles as different as kayaks, surfboards, swimming pools, parts of automobiles, fairground attractions or slides for playgrounds. Combined at times with polyester resin, with added silicone and colouring, fibreglass can ‘Simulate soft flesh ancl skin as close and intimate as iti ordinary and ‘vulgar From humour to pathos, from obscenity to leisure, from discomfort to tenderness and, sometimes, even from the coldest elements to something that contains a certain degre of soul. The excess of reality has these inlets and outlets, Duane Hanson (Alexandria, Minnesota, 1925-Boca Raton, Florida, 1996) used polyester resin and fibreglass to make his tourists, porters, cleaners and security guards. Skifully characterised, they emerge from the common disatisfctions and loneliness ofthe typical North American middle clas, and also from a certain type of| Jhumour, John de Andrea (Derver, Colorado, 1941) also uses fibreglass for his figures, applying a series of oil pint blooms to create a finish that reproduces the aspect of human skin. De Andrea usually produces naked female figures, creating youngand splendorous characters, with natural hair, in an intimate carefree pose that viewers can contemplate lustfully. Perhaps even more disturbing in their verism and nuvty their models seem tired and submissive Both artists use moulds taken directly of the bady following the procedure George Segal used for his figures with an imperfect finish, shostly and mysterious. Although it shares some common aspects, the mannequin is diferent in that its body i more plastic, ana pethaps more tevfying, considering how cold and sf it ser. It shares its hieratic nature withthe figures on show in wax museums, sometimes in the sections dedicated t the grotesque or inthe chamber of horrors as occurs with some of the viseous figures that are part of the Kienhols' installations and, in a mote refined version, ‘with the mannequins created by Charles Ry or Jake & Dinos Chapman's sculptural ensembles. Advanced special eects techniques, artifcios de la industria cinematogréfica, la publicidad y a television se podria llenar otra espectacular sala de este feticio "museo con temporineo de la recreacién del cuerpo humano”. En este repaso ahordaremos varias maneras de entender el hiperrelismo escuilor «9 dela mano de Ron Mueck, Evan Penny y Richard Stil. También ls exquinascolindantes, las proximidades yl fonteras de sus figu- tas de calidad fotograficaycaldez humana, Ron Mueck es el sentimiento el latido,debajo de una precision _asomibros, Ears sostiene que intenta crear una presencia vero- simi, pero lo cierto es que va mis alla, Compone un estado de dni- ‘mo, una edad de fa vida, un momento sublime, un alma palpitante que respira por esos poros de fibra de vidrio como el propio Mueck. Cada vena que atraviesa la piel, cada rojez, cada brillo, cada pliegue y «ada hendiduraestin escrupulosamente colocados. Mueck comenzé traolar con la fibra de vidrio en los aos nowenta si bien recurre a la ociidad de la siicona para resolver detalles mis delicados, como Ja banda pel en la que inserta, uno a uno, los flamentos que simu Jan vellos,previamenteIjados y pintados. EI resultado es de un rea iso pasmoso. Mueck (Melbourne, 1958) rocede de una familia de orgen ale min, establecda en Australia y dedicada ala fabricacin de muriecos, Recuerda haber pasado una infanca solitaria y tranquil, de horas y horas en una habitacin haciendo sus props juguetes y marwale ds. De ahi partieton vente ats de trabajo en la industria de efectos especiales, antes de inciar su carteraartstica. Desde finales de los as seenta asta mediados de los ochenta, Mueck emplea su prodi ios habildad en la creacién de animaciones, mutiecosy efectos es petals para programas infantis de televsin, primero en Australia luego en Londres, dane se establecié en 1986, tras pasar una tem porada en Los Angels. Trabaié para Shir’s Neighbourhood y para los elebres The Muppet Show (“Telehecos”, en Espaia) y Sesame ‘Stree, de Jim Henson (136-1990), De la mano de Henson entré en el cine, partcipando en los films Dreamchild (1985) y Labyrinth (1986), esta ltma produc por George Lucas y protagonizada por David Bowie y Jennifer Connelly. Personajes fantasticos, titres, duendes, mufhecos de trapo 0 lex, rostros burlanes y cariaturas cenriquecen su repertorio de seres, gests y energlas. Creé también ‘muecos para anuncias publictariosy inalmente, mont su propia ‘ompafia en Londres. Muchas de sus piezas, cumuladas hoy en su ‘as, estaba concebidas para ser fotogafiadas solo desde un ingulo, El velco de su carrera llega en 1996, cuando la artista portu ‘uesa Paula Rego, establecda en Londres desde los aos cincuenta y 2 la saan su suegr, le encarga un modelo para una serie de euadros ‘make-up, animatronics and other devices from the film industry, advertising and television, could be used to fill another spectacular oom in this fictional “contemporary museum ofthe recreation of the human body.” In this summary we wil analyse works made by Ron Mueck, Evan Penny’and Richard Stil, considering diferent ways ‘of understanding sculptural hyperralism. We will also tackle the adjoining corners, the proximities andthe borders oftheir figures, ‘with ther photographic quality and human warmth, Ron Muecks the feeling, the heartbeat, disguised as amazing precision, Te artist has stated that he attempis to create a realistic presence, but the truth is he goes beyond just that. He composes a ‘mood, an age a sublime moment a throbbing soul that breathes, through its fibreglass pores, ike Mueck himself, Each vin seen under the skin, each blemish, each shin, each fold and each wrinkle Js scrupulously placed. Mueck started to work with fibreglass in the nineties although he usually turns docile to silicone to sole the mest delicate detail, ike the soft skin in which he inserts the filaments that he uses for hairs, placing! thern in his creations one by ‘one, after sanding them down and painting them. By doing so, he can, create stunning realism, ‘Mueck (Melboure, 1958) comes froma German family who _maved to Australia and works manufacturing toys. He remembers a lonely peaceful childhood, spending hour upon hour in his room ‘making his own toys and handicrafts. Mueck spent twenty years ‘working in the special effect industry, before starting his career as an artist. From the late seventies until the mid-ightis, Mueck used his prodigious skill to create animations, puppets and special fects for children’ television programmes, first in Australia and then in Landon, ‘where he relocated to in 1986, aftr spending some time in Las Angeles. He worked on Shit’ Neighbourhood and on the famous The Muppet Show ara Sesame Street, created by lim Henson (1696-1990), Henson led the way to the film world, and Mueck took pat inthe ‘movies Dreacl (1985) and Labyrin (1986) the latter produced by George Lucas staring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, Fantastic characters, puppets, goblins, gor latex dolls, naughty faces and caicatures make up his repertoire of beings, gestures and energies. He also created dolls for adverts and ended up establishing his own company in London. Many of his peees, currently pie in his house, were conceived tobe photographed only from one ange ‘The turning point in his career can be traced hack to 1996, when Portuguese artist Paula Rego, established in London since the 1950s and his mother in-law a the time, commissioned him a model fora ‘series of paintings inspired by Disney ils. The works were going to mY tar Cats Cay. Tora chal Sti tiesto 0 Bae Ons 2%, co omental Cte rida Ct Gallo, Frnt {nspirados en los filmes de Disney. Las abrasihan a ser expuestas en fa muestra colectiva Spellbound: Art and Film, de la Hayward Ga- Ilery, ese mismo afo, como celebraciin del eentenaro del cine bit nico. Mueck model6 un nino de 84x 20° 18 centimetros, que westia solo unos ealzoncillosblancos dealgodén, con ls piemasestradas y Jos brazos det de la espa, con e cuello hacia dante, en un ges- to entre pillucloy serio, con un grueso rizo sobre la frente, como atenliendo a una regafina, deseubriendo algin misterio o ideando luna futura travesura, Rego lo sitda en su cuadeo The Blue Fury Whispers to Pinocchio (1996) de espaldas,atendiendo a os susurres, el Hada Azul, la que dio vida al mufieco de madera creado por el ‘carpintero yfabricante de juguetes Geppetto, El lienzo de Rego y fa figura de Mueck se expusieron juntos. como el Fada Azul, Charles Satchi vio a Pimnochio y encargé obra a ‘5 creador para incluiva, al afto siguiente, en la exposicién Sensa- tion: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection, en la Royal, Academy of Arts en Londres. Rondando los euarenta aos, Mueck rarticipc er la mitica muestra con cuatro pieaas, Una figura de ape: ‘nas un metro de largo, tumbada en el suelo, conmociona a critica y public. Es Dead Dad (1996-67), una representacion de su padre, Nicido poco antes, en silicona y acrlco. Desnudo, rigid, paltico, con el sexo fice y los pirpaios amoratados, con ls brazostiesos ‘lo largo del cuerpo, elcuello en tensidn... el hiperrealismo de esta Figura es espeluznante, de una franqueza tan excesiva que puede ge- erar aprensién, ‘Mueck hue aguf, como hard siempre, de a ecala habitual de la Figura humana. La reduce o la ampliica desmesuradamente,respetan- do todas y cada uno de sus detalles anatémicos, eso si. Su padre muer- to puede ser minimo, exactamente de 20-x 102 x38 centimetrs,y un nif puede ser descomunal, como el oy de cinen metros que presen= ‘wen la gran cipula del Millenium Dome de Londres, en 2000, y ues en la Bienal de Venecia,en 2001, Escondido, asustado de agente o tal ver de su propia magnitud éste es un nino tan humano como aquel ‘que le observ, No tan enorme, peto si sobreimensonada (202 x 65 x 99 centimetros) es Ghost (1997), una adoescente confusa en hana, «om pieras langas como pals ybrazos eseondidos tras el cuerpo, apo yada sin gracia conta la pared, con la cabeza inclinaday la mirada tonta, inmoda, de saberse a medio formar. La escala funciona en ‘Mueck como un juego de proporcién y desproporcién psicolégicas, tambign como un elemento que altera la mirada del espectador y si forma de aproximarse a la pieza. Brinda la posibilidad de bservar el, dltalley abarcar una figura entera con la mirada de recogeta en a Vista de un modo cercano e intimo, como nunca podrfa hacerse con he displayed as part ofthe group exhibition Speltbound!: Art and itm atthe Hayorard Gallery that same year, to celebrate the centenary of British cinema. Mueck modelled a child measuring 84 x20 18, ‘centimetres (33x78. 7 inches), with white cotton underpants les ‘outstretched and arms behind his back, neck stretched forward, and Took on his face that was halfway between naughty and serious, with a thick cur framing his forehead: it seemed.as if he were bein tol of, or discovering abig secret or devising future prank. Rego use iin her painting The Blue Fairy Whispers to Pinocchio (1996), back turned and listening to the whispering voice ofthe Blue Fairy. who blew life into the wooden doll erated by carpenter and toy ‘manufacturer Gepptto ego's painting and Mueck’ gure were exhibited together. ‘Then, lke the Blue Fairy, Charles Satehi saw Pianochio and ‘commissioned his ceatora work that would be displayed the following year, a pat of the exhibition Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Coletion, atthe Royal Academy of Arts in London, Mueck, around forty years od atthe time, took pat inthe mythical exibition with four pieces. One figure, harely one metre Jong. lying on the floor, shocked erties and audience. The work was «entitled Dead Dad (1996-67), a representation of his ther, eho had ‘assed anay shortly befor, in silicone and acrylic. Naked, si, Pathetic, acid penis, bruised eyelids, arms stuck along the length of his body, tense neck. The hyperralism ofthis igure ishorvifc Its so blunt that it could generate apprehension Asalways. om this occasion Mueck also les from normal life- size figures He reduces or enlarges them disproportionatey albeit alvays respecting each and every anatomical detail His dead father ‘may be tiny, measuring exactly 20x 102 x38 centimetres (78x 40x 15 inches) but ach may be colossal, ke the e-metre Boy he presented atthe great Millennium Dome in London, in 2000, and thenat the Venice Biennale, in 2001. Hiding, afraid ofthe people or ‘maybe of his own size, this boy is as human as the one contemplating him, Notas enormous, but oversized nonetheless (202 x 65x 99 centimetres [79.5 x 25.5 x 39 inches)), Gast (1997) isa confuse teenager ina swimsuit, legs as long as sticks and arms hidden behind her body, she leans gracelessly agains the wall, head inclined and lost Jnthought, uncomfortable to know tht she is sill inthe making. Mueck’s scale works like a game of psychological proportion ann Aisproportion, and as an element that alters the viewers’ gaze and hhow they approach the piece. He offers the opportunity to contemplate details and to take the whole figure in at the same time, it cam be caught in our gaze in an intimate and close manner: una persona en su tamaiio “habitual”. También permite la experien: cla Gnica de sentise abrumado por la piel, por tanta humana ina bareable que se escapa fuera del carapo de visién, En situaciones, ademas, en las que el pudor no nos permitiria obser jams 2 al fuien “real” con tanta dlectacién y detenimiento: un cadaver, una madre reign parda, una ancianaacostada, una embarazad. En pequerio formato ha ideado también su resignado Angel (1997), subido a una sill; Untitled (Man Under Cardigan), 1998 una encantadora figura masculina que cubre su cabeza con una chagueta de punto- y Spoenting Couple (2005), una parea semives: lida que acopla sus cuerpos antes de dormir. Mec inmortaliza aqui lo cariioso y lo triste, la cercania de la castumbre la soledad abi mal de dos indviduos que duermen juntos. De nuevo, un momento ‘ntimo sublimado, una oportunidad tnica de observa la verdad sin frenos. intled (Old Woman in Bed), 2000, es una ancians acostada en posicion fetal, sobre una peana de la que cuelgan part de as si banas donde descansa, Mostrando sus canas revuellasy su boca me dio abierta, Mueck hace con ella un homenajea la nableza dela ve- Jez, nspirandose en los thtimos dias de vida de a abuela de su mujer. tras ancianas extraordinarias son Tio Women (2005) y Uintifed (Seated Wornan), 199. También entre sibanas blancas, pero esta vez en un tamafio descomunal, modela fn Bed (2005), una mujer adult ¥ pensitiva, de tez muy blanca y ojos eargados de rojeces, mirando {de lado con la mano ligeramente hundida en la majilla. Desorienta 1s, aturdida, stu mente va masa de la expectacién que levanta, La desnudez en Mueck es rigurosa y sincera, sin concesiones. La piel confiesa la edad, sus miseiasy las penas del rostro, Mueck verifica com ela la rail de la materia de la que estamos heches. Dentro de Big Man (2000), un gigante calvo rebosante de volumen, Dliegues y carnosidad, hallamos una figura melancélica, indefensay desnuda. Fri en toda su eorpulenca, econcentrada en su interior tiene esa humana vulnerabilidad que e respira en todas las obras de Mueck En términos de verdad, dolor y asombro compone la materni- dad de Mother and Chit (2001). El tema dela Virgen y el Nino, om: presente en la National Gallery de Londees, donde Mueck disfruté de una residencia como artista imitado entre los aos 2000 y 2002, adguiere aguf un enfogue sin idalismos.Plantea el moment final tras el esfuerzo del parto, duro, himedo y sidoroso como es. ¥ ciet- tamente extraho. Con el cordén umbilical atin sin cotar, el bebé se ost como una ranita sobre el ventre dela madre, mojado ybrillan- te por los liquidos maternos, tan asustado y extenuado de la expe rieneia como ella, que le mira con pasmo y alza en tensi¢n los dedos something we could never do with a“lif"-size person, He aso offers the unique experience of eling ovenvhelmed by ski, by so much humanity that itcannot be contained and escapes beyond the field of vision. Furthermore, he presents his figures in situations where we ‘would never be allowed to contemplate someone “eal” with such delight and detail a corpse, a mother who has just given birt, an old woman in bed, a pregnant woman, He has aso used a small scale to create his resigned Angel (1997), represented on a chair Unditled (Man Under Cardigan), 1998 a charming male figure hiding his head under a cardigan and ‘Spooning Couple (2005). a hat-iessed couple who ft their bodies together before going to sleep. Mueck immortals affection and sadness the closeness of habit and the abysmal loneliness of two people who sleep together: Once again, it isa sublime intimate ‘moment, unique opportunity to contemplate unlimited truth. Cntted (Otd Woman in Bed), 2000, presents an old woman lying in the foetus postion, with the sheets Ranging down from the hase she is resting on. With tangled grey hai and mouth hanging half open, -Mueck uses her to pay tribute to the nobility of old age, taking his inspiration from his wife's grandmothers last days. Tao Women (2005) and Untitled (Seated Woraan), 1989, are other extraordinary examples of old women. Also between white sheets, bu this ime in an enormous scale, he modelled Bed (2005), an adult woman, lst in thought, with very white skin and red eyes, glancing at us wth her hand resting lightly on her cheek. Disorientated, confused, her mind oes beyond the expectation she arouses. In Mueck, nudity is rigorous and sincere, it makes no concessions. Skin is telling of age, miseries and the hardships the face has experienced. Mueck uses itt verify the frailty of the matter we ate made of His Big Man (2000, abald giant, brimming with volume, wrinkle and flesh, isa melancholic, defenceless and naked figure. Fragile inal its heftines, this figure contains all that human vulnerability that canbe felt in all of Miuec’s works. He uses truth, pain and wonder to represent maternity in Mother and Child (2001). The topic ofthe Virgin and Child, ‘omnipresent in London's National Gallery, where Mueck had a residence as an associate artist between 2000 ane 2002, is represented here without idealisms. He presents the final moment after the eflort, of giving birt, with a its hardness, dampness and sweatiness, And with ll its strangeness. Umbilical cord still attache, the baby is placed ikea tte frog on the mother’s belly, damp and shiny from the maternal uids, as scared and exhausted bythe experience as she is, whilst she looks down at him anxiously and tenses her tes han omy Back Bo 20 ns mot abla yumi 120 11 Sec “Sang Cae 5 Ks mit, M45 35m os ick ie, Crk odio Carouge, i de os pies. Fruto de una minuciosa documentacion médica, Mueck ‘consigue reerear una materidad sublime, en una figura de apenas un metro (como Dead Dad). Para la potente embarazada, Pregnant Woman (2002), de dos metros y sesenta centimetros,s us6 una mo- del, que poss desde su sexto mes hasta la penta semana, y dio a hua a su hijo antes que Mueck a su obra. Pero incluso cuando usa ‘modelos, como en este caso, el artista da finalmenterienda suelta a Tacomposicién mental y emocional de a obra, Con los ojos cerrades, cavilosa hinchada, la mujer alza los brazos sobre la cabeza, estvan- do su voluminoso cuerpo y dejéndolo descansar de las tensiones y el eso abdominal. De la residencia en la National Callery’surgié tam: ign Man de a Boat (2002), un hombre desrudo con el ceo feuncido 1y os razos cruzados (75 em) surcando el espacio sobre un barco (427 emp, y Swadited Baby (2002), un bebé (51 em) envuelto en una manta amarrada con un hilo Dos fos después de que Mueck levara su Bay al Aperto de la Bienal de Venecia su compatriota Patricia Piccinini ocupo el Pabe: Hido Australiano de los Giardini con unas conmovedoras eriaturas -hibrdos de varios animales, pero con una delicada y tierna expr: ‘i hamana- que formaban un conjunto de cinco instalacionestitu- lado Weare family. 1 trabajo de los pliegues ylas Blandeces, a col ‘acidnhiperrealista de la piety la inclusion de eabello -en este caso hhumano- daban a The Young Family (2002-03) una apariencia cau- tivadora. La escenaestaha compuesta por una madre Iibrida entre el reino humano y animal, amamantando asus eachorros, todos desl ona, arilico y otros materiales. Picinini cont6 para este trabajo, ‘como para Leather Landscape (2003) también mostrado en Ve- necia-, con los asistentesy equipo ténico de Ron Mueck, a abra de Mueck ha influenciado tambign a Evan Penny. Nacido «en Suléfrca en 1953 y nacionalizado canadiense, Penny descubris el trabajo de Mueck en Sensation y reconocié en detalles de hiperrealidad ‘como ls pos de fa piel oel velo elermnts que habia manejado en ‘us trabajs para cine pero que no habia introduce plenimente en sa arte, Penny se habia estrenado en la elaboracin de efectos especiales, para cine con el filme de teror Jacobs Laer (1989), de Adrian Lyne: aticipd en wx (1991), Natural Bam Kile (1998) y Nir (1996), de Oliver Stone, y en existenz (1909), de David Cronenberg, Acumulaba, ademas, una larga trayectoria como profesor de escultra. Evan Penny traaja la figura humana completa habtualmente a tres cuartos de su escala (122 em) oa cuatro quintos (132 em), redu- ciendo el tamafo del cuerpo y asimismo, la distancia de observacion del espectador. Sus bustos esilan entre el tamafo real, su doble y ampliaciones que superan los dos metros y medio, Caleula gue em= Carrying out a meticulous medical documentation, Mueck recreates sublime maternity, ina figure that is harelya metre Tong (like Dead Daa). To compose his monumental Pregnant Woman (2002), which measures two metres and sisty centimetres (ft. 6.3 inches) high he did sed a model who posed for him from her sixth month of pregnancy until two weeks hefore her haby was due. She had er chil before Mueck fave birth to his work. Yet ever when he uses models in this case, the artist ends up giving in to the mental and emotional ‘composition ofthe work. Eyes closed, pensive and bloated the woman Tits her arms up above er head, stretching her heavy body and relieving it ofthe tensions and the weight of her bely. His residence at {he National Gallery aso led tothe creation of Marin « Boat 22). raked figure, represented frowning and with his arms crossed over his chest (75 cm [295 inches) travelling through space on a boat (427 em {14 feet) and Suoadaed Baby (2002), figure (51cm [20 inches) \wrapped ina blanket tat is kept in place with a thread ‘Two years after Mueck took his Bay to the Aperto atthe Venice Biennale, his compatriot Patricia Piccinini occupied the Giardinis| ‘Australian Pavilion with a series of tender creatutes hybrids of several animals, with a delicate, tender human expression that ‘composed an ensemble of five installations entitled We are family ‘The way she works the wrinkles and folds, the hyperrealist colouring ‘ofthe skin and the use of hair ~human on ths occasion- rake The Young Family (2002-13) a captivating creation. Te scene was ‘compose by a hybrid mother, half-way between the human andthe animal realm, suckling her cubs all made of silicone, aeryic and other materials. Pecinini used Ron Mueck’s assistants and technical team both for this piece, and for Leuther Landscape (2003) -which was aso presented in Venice, ‘Mueck’s work has also influenced Bvan Penny: Born in South ‘Africa in 1953, Penny became a naturalised Canadian, He discovered Mueck’s work in Sensation and saw that certain elements that e had worked with in his film projects appeared in Mueck’s hyperreaist creations, ike the pres ofthe skin or the hai, although Penny had ‘not used them fully in his art. Penny started out asa special effects nist for horror films, specifically in Adrian Lyne's Jacobs Lacdler| (1980): he also worked on Olver Stone's x (1991), Natural Rama Killers (1994) and Nison (1995), and on David Cronenberg’ exstonz (1999). Moreover he also hada long experience as.a sculpture teacher. Evan Penny works withfal-body human Figures, usually ina three fourths scale (122 em [48 inches} or four fifths scale (132 em 8 inches), thus reducing the size ofthe body and the sighting plea entre doseientas y trescientas horas para componer una pieza ‘mediana, Sus materiales: moldes de resina de poster, capas de sli cona pigmentada, ojas de video o resia, pelo humano o de caba- T,.. Antes de conocer a Mueck, ya buscaba la fguracién vera y el regodco en el detalle, tal y como hizo en Ali (1984). Frente a los ccuetpos limpios, sensuales y esplendorosos de John de Andrea, Penny busca aqui un desnud adiposo,hipertea, de manos y rodilas cenrojecidas, de carnes descontroladas, con la sangre de las venas acumulada en la parte inferior de ls pieras. Bs ésta una pieza de verosimilitud turbadora. En otros trabajos, como Female Shadow Grouping y Male Shadow Grouping (ambas de 1985), contrapone tuna figura de resina de poiéster a otra escultura que funciona co- ‘mo su “sombra’,idealizada y reaizada en bronce. Modela también torsos fragmentados y algunos inguietantes hibridos, como el Sha- dow Torso (1985), donde un brazo parece cobrar vida real en un cuerpo de bronee. ‘Ota gran “revlaci6n” que reconoce Penny en su trayectora es Ja exposicion Artificial. Figuraciones Contempordneas, que tuv0 lu far en el Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (micas) en 1998. En conereto, le impactaron las obras de Thomas Ruff y de Stephan Hablutzel, Penny ha jugado desde entonces a introduc a fotografia cen a escutura, a burlarse de la perspectiva detectada por el of y 2

You might also like