Mueck’s sculptures are eerily life-like, quite often involving subjects in a state of undress. Knocking the spots off famous waxworks museums, visiting an exhibition of these pieces can be quite disturbing. Natural inhibitions come to the fore under the unblinking stares of some pieces, indeed it seems easier to look at those sculptures that have their eyes closed. It is like standing and staring at a live model as opposed to a painting. Startlingly accurate, even down to the veins under the translucent skin, these pieces are designed to make us look at the human form in its natural state.

Size matters in Mueck’s work. From the 15ft baby, entitled ‘A Girl’, to the vast ‘In Bed’, the sheer magnitude of the pieces reverses the spectator/sculpture relationship. The viewer feels under scrutiny, the size difference placing them in a subservient role. The sculpture certainly looks more at ease than the spectator.

What are your feelings on this sort of art? Jump into a discussion here where people are chatting about the impact of Mueck’s sculptures.