[K-wave] Ron Mueck's first solo exhibition in Korea at MMCA Seoul

Australian artist Ron Mueck presents his first major solo exhibition in Korea.

The contemporary sculptor is famous for his hyper-realistic human sculptures.

Since its opening on April 11th, more than 150-thousand people have already visited the exhibition, setting a new record for the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul.

Lee Eun-jin has the story.

The sculpture of a man's sleeping face rests on the floor. Each strand of hair and wrinkle seem all too real, but the back of it is hollow, like a mask.

The young couple seem to be clinging to each other but why they have such uncomfortable expressions is hidden behind, in the boy's tight grip.

These are the work of sculptor Ron Mueck, born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1958 and based in the United Kingdom since 1986.

Even more amazing than the delicate technique of his sculpting is the emotion that is conveyed through each piece, as it draws curiosity and throws visitors into deeper thought.

"It goes beyond 'it looks real'. Emotion and presence are expressed more real than reality.

Manifesting the most fundamental human emotions about death, loneliness and anxiety, his works are also called psychological portraits."

Each sculpture, embodying Mueck's extreme technical skills and sophisticated artistic expression, takes anywhere from several months to many years to complete.

The 48-piece collection displayed at this exhibition is the largest gathering of Mueck's works in Asia to date.

But the gathering of the sculptures shaped across three decades means visitors will have the chance to experience his sculptural journey.

One can imagine the work that went into installing the one hundred monumental skulls of Mueck's project titled 'Mass'.

But its journey across the sea was also not easy.

"The sculptures were fit into 100 crates. Upon arrival at Busan Port, they went through various security screenings, and were then transported to our museum. It was a long journey."

Visitors can feel the intimate yet uncomfortable confrontation of an old man and a chicken across a table

There's also an exhausted woman, overwhelmed with her ongoing efforts to survive urban contemporary life.

Beyond just showcasing his sculptures, the exhibition also intends to present an overview of Mueck's artistic journey, as he has led the evolution and trend of contemporary sculpture.

The Ron Mueck exhibition will be held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art until July 13th.

Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.