From the towering stack of 100 giant skulls nestled between the walls and ceiling to the eerily lifelike human sculptures, Australian artist Ron Mueck’s work blurs the lines between art and reality. His pieces not only leave viewers in awe but also provoke deep reflections on the essence of life itself, while the intricate details captivate the public’s admiration.
These hundred giant skulls, a representative work of Mass, are currently on display at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul. The shocking and hyper-realistic images of Mass have become one of the main attractions, drawing a flock of K-pop stars to check it out and snap some photos, including Apink’s leader Park Cho Rong, SHINee’s member KEY, P1Harmony’s leader KEEHO, and SEVENTEEN’s member HOSHI.
This exhibition is organized by the MMCA in collaboration with the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, bringing together the first major retrospective of this hyper-realistic sculpture master in Asia. It showcases 24 selected works that comprehensively reflect his artistic career spanning over 30 years.
The Master Sculptor Who Transcends Reality
Although I spend a lot of time working on the surface of my pieces, what I truly want to capture is the ‘inner life’ hidden beneath the surface.This is Ron Mueck’s core description of his creations and the key to understanding his work.
Born in 1958 in Melbourne, Australia, Ron Mueck began his career making models and puppets for children’s television programs. After moving to the UK in 1986, he gradually developed a distinctive artistic style. He is renowned for his sculptures of the human form, characterized by extreme precision in proportions, yet always presented in exaggerated sizes—either gigantic or tiny—creating a striking visual contrast.
Ron Mueck’s creative process is incredibly intricate and detailed, with each piece often taking months or even years to complete. He not only perfectly replicates the physical details of the human body but also focuses on capturing those inexpressible inner emotions—loneliness, fragility, anxiety, and fear. It’s particularly noteworthy that throughout his nearly 30-year career, Ron Mueck has completed only 48 works, which reflects his relentless pursuit of perfection and dedication to each piece. This is seen as a commentary on contemporary society’s obsession with speed and instant gratification.
Exhibition Highlights
Mass and Classic Works
The centerpiece of this exhibition, Mass (2016-2017), is making its debut in Korea. This large-scale installation art, composed of 100 giant human skulls, has been specially designed to align with the architectural features of the MMCA in Seoul. The skulls are stacked high towards the ceiling, creating a visually and physically striking spectacle that exudes tension.
Through MMCA’s official Instagram, you can catch a glimpse of the installation process, showcasing the precise positioning required for each skull, stacked in a unique manner that creates a visual effect that is both orderly and chaotic. This work is seen as the artist’s response to global disasters facing contemporary society, such as war, pandemics, and climate crises, inviting viewers to reflect on life, history, and collective human memory.
In addition to Mass, the exhibition also features several iconic works by Ron Mueck, including:
- Mask II (2002): A sleeping head magnified about 4 times, which is actually the artist’s own face. From a distance, it appears serene, but up close, it brims with unease.
- In Bed (2005): A massive 6-meter-long reclining female sculpture, depicting a relaxed posture yet bearing a heavy expression, showcasing the weight of inner burdens.
- A youthful, trendy couple embracing the vibrant energy of contemporary fashion and culture. (2013): A sculpture of a young couple, capturing the subtle tension present in interpersonal relationships.
- A straightforward depiction of a chicken and a man, capturing everyday simplicity with a touch of humorous minimalism. (2019): A hen faces off against a middle-aged man, creating a scene filled with an eerie tension.
- Ghost (1998/2014): A sculpture of a teenage girl standing in the corner, capturing the anxiety and confusion of adolescence.
The exhibition is taking place in halls 5 and 6 of the MMCA Seoul, with each artwork given ample space for viewers to fully appreciate and immerse themselves in the experience. In hall 6, visitors can also gain deeper insights into the work process and inner world of this reclusive artist through studio photos taken by photographer Gautier Deblonde and two documentaries.
As stated on the exhibition poster: They resemble humans even more than real people.— Ron Mueck’s works are not only technically astonishing, but they also resonate on an emotional level, prompting viewers to reflect on their own existence and feelings when confronted with these surreal yet intensely real sculptures. This exhibition is undoubtedly set to be a major event in the Asian art scene in 2025, offering audiences a rare opportunity to engage closely with the works of this hyper-realistic art master.
Ron Mueck
Date: April 11, 2025 – July 13, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (open until 9:00 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays)
Location: MMCA Seoul Halls 5 and 6 | 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
Source @mmcakorea @mulgokizary @ho5hi_kwon @bumkeyk @p1h_official, National Portrait Gallery by Stephen Gill, Art Basel
