Memento died

/ Art /
Hyperrealist Ron Mueck, a British artist of Australian origin, decided to remind us of mortality and the greatest tragedies of humanity.

His megacomposition of 100 sculptural skulls can be seen at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne as part of the Triennale, which opened on December 15 and runs until April 15, 2018.

Photo: Tom Ross

The artist follows the traditions of the Vanitas genre, reminding the consumer society of the transience and impermanence of existence with the help of an integral andtributa vanitas - human skull. Mueck's work "Mass" is also a study of contemporary crimes against humanity in Cambodia, Rwanda, Srebrenica and Iraq. The skull is not only a symbol of death in the art of different cultures, but also something that is common to all people on the planet, regardless of their race, religion, worldview and lifestyle.

Photo: Tom Ross
Photo: Sean Fennessey
Photo: Sean Fennessey
Photo: Sean Fennessey
Photo: Sean Fennessey

Ron Mueck was born into a family of toy makers: his father made wooden puppets, and his mother made rag dolls. Muck's career also began with the work of a puppeteer in children's programs on British television. Later, Ron was engaged in the creation of special effects and scenery for movies and advertising.

Ron Mueck gained fame as an artist after presenting giant hyperrealistic sculptures in the early 2000s, which were exhibited in dozens of museums and galleries around the world. Do you remember the 5-meter boy? If not, then we have also added photos of Muek's most interesting works of the past years to the selection.

"Boy", a sculpture 5 meters high, completed in 2000. Photo: Tamaki Sono
"Wild Man", National Gallery of Victoria, 2010. Photo: Mick Tsikas
"Woman with shopping". Photo: Francois Mori
"Mask II", San Ildefonso Museum. 2011. Photo: Henry Romero
"Young couple", 2013. Photo: Charles Platiau
Two Women, Brooklyn Museum, 2007. Photo: Timothy A. Clary
"Standing Woman", Towada, Japan. Photo: Kazuhiro Nogi
Tags
sculpture