About this artwork

Mueck’s sculptures are so lifelike that we find it hard to believe that they are modelled and cast in the traditional way rather than cast from life, even though, as is the case with ‘Mask III’, it is many times the size of a human head. The work is highly idealised and made to have even rounder and more benign-looking features than those of a person it was based on. Shortly before he made 'Mask III', Mueck had visited an exhibition containing a number of sculptures of the Buddha, he attempted to capture some of the inner peace and serenity of these Buddhas. The head is as round and calming as a full moon. Its symmetry is enhanced by the lack of a body.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Ron Mueck (born 1958) Australian
  • title:
    Mask III
  • date created:
    2005
  • materials:
    Mixed media
  • measurements:
    155.00 x 132.00 x 113.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
  • accession number:
    AR00035
  • gallery:
  • subject:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Ron Mueck

Ron Mueck