Why record numbers flocked to MMCA Seoul for Ron Mueck

Korean audiences moved by exhibition's hyperrealist sculptures

"Chicken / Man" by Ron Mueck is on view at MMCA Seoul. (Park Yuna/The Korea Herald)

When a 29-year-old Seoulite, surnamed Jung, arrived at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul at 2 p.m. for a last chance to see the exhibition on Ron Mueck on Sunday, she was surprised to see the crowd waiting to enter the gallery.

“It was quite impressive to see the hyperrealistic details of each figure, such as the wrinkles on their faces. The documentary about the artist’s process of creating handcrafted works was even more striking, especially in this age when digital technology makes hyperrealism easier,” she said.

“Ron Mueck” drew more than 530,000 visitors during its three-month run, marking a decade-high attendance of 5,671 people per day. The exhibition ran from April 11 to Sunday, showing Mueck's iconic hyperrealist sculptures such as “Man in a Boat,” “In Bed” and “Mask II,” among others.

The popularity of Mueck’s works in South Korea is attributed to two elements: hyperrealism and the medium of sculpture. Rarely seen in contemporary art exhibitions here, the combination offers a fresh experience to audiences.

This photo provided by a Seoul resident surnamed Yoon shows visitors waiting to enter the “Ron Mueck” exhibition at MMCA Seoul on May 10. (Yoon)

These qualities were further amplified by social media: A popular Instagrammable installation of “Mass,” which comprises 100 giant human skulls, went viral. Created in 2018, the title of the installation can refer either to a heap of something, a crowd of people or a religious ceremony.

“I first came across the exhibition on Instagram, and I found it compelling. I did not know much about the artist before I went to the show last month,” said Kim Sung-hyun, 27, from Seoul.

“I go to exhibitions from time to time, and sculpture exhibitions are sort of rare in Seoul, so I enjoyed it a lot, although it was extremely crowded. It made it hard to focus on the show.”

"Man in a Boat" by Ron Mueck at MMCA Seoul (MMCA)

Another Seoul resident surnamed Yoon saw the exhibition twice, in both April and May.

“I find contemporary art a bit difficult, but I found myself more connected to Ron Mueck’s works than other conceptual art, as it is expressed realistically,” she said.

The exhibition was the artist’s first major show in the country. Mueck is known to have created sculptural works by sticking to the time-intensive, traditional sculptural process of clay molding and casting in silicon, according to the museum.

“Ron Mueck’s works immediately evoke emotional responses and empathy from viewers, as they depict familiar forms and universal aspects of the human experience. Audiences seem to be drawn to their overwhelming scale and astonishing realism," said Hong Iji, a curator at MMCA Seoul.

"Interestingly, the absence of wall text in the exhibition space is thought to have allowed for full immersion for the audiences," she added.

A scene from "Still Life: Ron Mueck at Work," a film written and directed by Gautier Deblonde (Gautier Deblonde)

Park Young-sin, a Korean-language instructor in her late 30s, said she was curious how hyperrealism could be interpreted in visual art, in comparison to hyperrealism and realism in literature.

“I also really appreciated one particular piece that seemed to depict a couple on a date. I felt the emotional tension and pressure the woman was experiencing. The narrative I found in the sculpture was subtle, yet powerful,” she said.