Winnipeg Art Gallery and National Gallery of Canada Bring Ron Mueck to Winnipeg

WINNIPEG, May 22, 2015 /CNW/ - The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) is pleased to present an exhibition of work by internationally-renowned contemporary artist Ron Mueck as part of an ongoing partnership with the National Gallery of Canada. NGC@WAG: Ron Mueck opens at the WAG on May 23 and runs until October 4.

Mueck's subjects are at once unsettling and captivating, portraying humans at key stages in life, from birth through middle age, to death. In works that are either monumental in scale or undersized, he explores the human condition and psyche, often conveying feelings of loneliness, vulnerability, and alienation.

"Ron Mueck is a big name in contemporary art," says Dr. Stephen Borys, WAG Director & CEO. "Whether he makes large things small, or small things large, the artist plays with scale in new and exciting ways. NGC@WAG: Ron Mueck is our latest collaboration with the National Gallery of Canada, and we are delighted to share this compelling work with audiences in Manitoba."

The WAG exhibition will feature two sculptures: A Girl (2006), an oversized baby reflecting a newborn's sudden domination of the household; and Untitled (Old Woman in Bed) (2000), inspired by Mueck's visit with his wife's ailing grandmother, a tiny, vulnerable woman enveloped in hospital linens. Also included in the show are maquettes and preparatory studies.

"The National Gallery of Canada has been a proud partner of the WAG for a number of years,"said NGC Director and CEO, Marc Mayer. "We are very pleased to share with all Canadians exceptional works of art drawn from their national collection."

Born in Australia, Mueck began his career making and animating marionettes for children's television, including Jim Henson's Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and the 1986 film Labyrinth. After establishing his own production company in London (UK) to make models for the advertising industry, he began creating highly realistic figures that caught the attention of the art world. Mueck maintains an extremely high standard of craftsmanship beginning with clay models and sculpting in fibreglass, silicone, and resin.

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The Winnipeg Art Gallery is a cultural advocate – a lens and forum – helping people see and experience more through art. Playing a vital role in the community, engaging and enriching people of all ages and backgrounds through art and culture, the Winnipeg Art Gallery thrives as a creative, innovative, and accessible place for learning, discovery and inspiration.

The National Gallery of Canada is home to the most important collection of historical and contemporary Canadian art. The Gallery also maintains Canada's premier collection of European Art from the 14th to the 21st century, as well as important works of American, Asian and Indigenous Art and renowned international collections of prints, drawings and photographs. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played a key role in Canadian culture for well over a century. Among its principal missions is to increase access to excellent works of art for all Canadians. For more information, visit gallery.ca

SOURCE National Gallery of Canada