arts
February 27, 2026
From fragile bodies to feral packs: Ron Mueck returns to Sydney
Ron Mueck: Encounter is the artist’s most extensive Australian show to date

TL;DR
- Ron Mueck's new work, *Havoc* (2025), features terrifying sculptures of charcoal-grey canines, commenting on fear and pack mentality.
- *Havoc* is debuting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of the exhibition *Ron Mueck: Encounter*, his largest Australian show to date.
- Mueck is known for his hyperreal sculptures of humans, using scale to amplify emotions like vulnerability, adolescent self-consciousness, and grief.
- Key works on display include *In Ghost* (1998/2014), *Couple Under an Umbrella* (2013/2015), and *Dead Dad* (1996-97).
- The artist's background includes puppetry and special effects for productions like Jim Henson's work and the film *Labyrinth*.
- Mueck's meticulous process results in fewer than 50 sculptures over three decades, with a new publication detailing the creation of *Havoc*.
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