Duane Hanson - sculptor

[ParadEyes]

This guy is unbelievably brilliant , he deserves a thread on his own.



Duane Hanson (January 17, 1925–January 6, 1996)

Duane Hanson is well known for his hyper-realistic figures made of polyester and cast fiberglass enhanced by real clothing, accessories, and props.

The realism of his sculptures draws the viewer in for a closer look and links Hanson with the Photorealist painters who also explored methods of copying as a form of image-making. Hanson’s intent, however, was not merely to reproduce reality but also to comment on the human condition. His subjects are ordinary people leading unremarkable lives—a cleaning lady, a woman shopping, a museum guard.

Duane Hanson's sculpture "Drug Addict" from 1974 (together with an unidentified museum guest). Picture taken at an exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark.



Tourists II - 1988

Since the early 1970’s Duane Hanson has been making startlingly lifelike sculptures of middle America accomplished through a complex process of casting from live models, recreated in bronze or fibreglass resin.



sources:
wikimedia
saatchi-gallery
museum.oglethorpe

 

[ParadEyes]

Queenie II - 1988

Queenie can be understood on one level as the personification of all those resigned-looking women who drag their bodies around in pursuit of the mess created by the rest of us. But we are made to confront the fact that such women, who are usually invisible and ignored, are not just faceless domestics.


saatchi-gallery

 

[ParadEyes]

The Traveller - 1986

Tourists - 1970

sources:
westga
Flickr/Reid Harris Cooper

 

[tctra]

i didn't read the description and thought, 'so what? this guy takes photos of fat people, nothing special' But these are scultures, damn, its amazing

 

[ParadEyes]

^ lol. I should've added "sculpture" to the title.

Yea, most of his sculptures are of fat, random, shallow looking people..or people you wouldn't bother to notice. He is being very critical on americans in his work..but it's humorous.

 

[Over the Sea]

Source: americanart.si.edu

 

[Jetsetgirl]

he is totally awesome! I've seen three of his sculptures in diefferent museums so far and they are really stunning!

 

[BerlinRocks]

These are even more awesome when display in a good collective exhibition.
I kind of find it boring when this sculptors are on their own, in a white box.
But when you add another sculpture or photo or painting or installation (well chosen works, of course), the meaning of this piece get outstand by the Hanson sculptor ... Like it can take a different sense or it can be a great mise en abime about the behaviour of the visitor of the exhbition ...

George Segal is also very interesting to look at, and is from the same period.