Duane Hanson was born in 1925 in small city in Minnesota. He received his BA at Macalester College in Minnesota and his MFA at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. As he was in school and later professing abroad, he began sculpting in an eerily real style. While teaching in Munich, Germany, he came into contact with the philosophy of the Post Expressionists. He would lated be considered to be a Verist, a movement of Post Expressionism who, as described by the art historian Gustav Friedrich Hartlaub, “… tear the objective form of the world of contemporary facts and represent current experience in its tempo and fevered temperature.” As such, his focus turned to creating accurate, surreal recreations of regular people. Duane Hanson died on January 6th, 1996.
Pictures of a few of these amazing sculptures after the jump.
“Drug Addict” w/ unknown man (1974)
“Man on a Bench” (?)
“Flea Market Vendor” (1990)
“Queenie II” (1988)
“Young Shopper” (1973)
“Tourists II” (1988)
“Traveller” 1988
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105 comments ↓
Really nice pics of all moods
thanks for sharing
amazing!!!!!!!!!!
Why?
Why is everyone minus the drug addict fat?
Why is it that most of those sculptures are of overweight people? Saddening.
Why don’t you make some hot bitches instead of all these fatties.
Everyone is fat.
Fuck us.
Seriously, we need to stop eating.
Look at how we are viewed?
It’s disgusting.
Most of them are overweight as it takes more skill to sculpt people with curves than people who are flat. Artists/sculptors use this to show how good they are.
At least thats what they do in paintings.
I’ve seen his work locally (there was one on display at the FLL airport for some time, may still be there) and it *always* makes me do a double-take…
Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but 5 of those 7 sculptures portry obese people… is it a sign of the times?
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These have got to be some of the greatest works in this genre that I have seen to date - and yes, I am sorry, America but this is exactly what you look like to people outside your country - I came across American tourists in Europe and this is EXACTLY what they look like. WELL DONE on telling the TRUTH! the truth always hurts…
They are really great!
These are the people you got in trouble for staring and pointing at as a kid, now frozen for your gawking pleasure. Hard to lookat them for long, and yes, it is sad that the rest of the world sees Americans this way.
Why would he sculpt fat people? They don’t exist in a world.
I actually have seen the one named “Traveller” at an airport, dont remember which one, but it was right next to security check and inside a cristal box. But it really looked soooo real!!
It’s funny. I thought the same thing when I went to Europe. I thought everyone was going to be super fit, just based on how much they like to point out how fat Americans are. I was wrong. There were a ton (pun intended) of fatties there too, especially in Britain. I’m not saying that the ratio is the same as America, but don’t pretend that there aren’t fat people all over the world.
The “Traveller” is at Orlando airport (MCO) ….and your right…it is in a glass box right by the security checkout next to the Starbucks…
Quote Viv “These have got to be some of the greatest works in this genre that I have seen to date - and yes, I am sorry, America but this is exactly what you look like to people outside your country - I came across American tourists in Europe and this is EXACTLY what they look like. WELL DONE on telling the TRUTH! the truth always hurts…”
I was in Thailand and every European tourist I saw was this fat plus they were wearing tiny bathing suits hiding nothing…….pretty damn disgusting!
It’s obvious that this art is commentary on the current state of the United States (I am American living in MO by the way). Go anywhere in the US and this is what you see. Fat people everywhere. Why is everyone so shocked? Been to a mall lately?
However, the redeeming quality is that this artist is an American! So, yes we have a lot of fat people, but we also have a lot of genius artists as well.
To #7: Exactly… we’ve accepted ‘instant’ everything into our lives and don’t realize how it’s impacted us. The artist merely captured society - he’s not mocking us. Everything seems different from another’s perspective.
Saw one of these in DC and it really freaked me out. It was amazing.
yes..they are fat, yes americans are fat. but look at the dates of those sculptures. he called it wayyy before they started serving oreo cookie pizzas at dominoes, which i think is a landmark itself.
[…] morreu em 1996 mas tem seus trabalhos, até hoje, em exposição por várias partes do mundo. Mais aqui e […]
FINALLY someone else went as far as to read the dates these were produced! 1974-1990 and this is ALMOST 2008. These are wonderful creations AND…He started the sculptures while in Germany…not the US so, actually, his models were not all US based. And for god sakes…this isn’t about the HEALTH of the subject…but a study in realism and how he was able to capture that in his medium of choice! You don’t see people sitting around the museum talking about the HEALTH and WELL-BEING of any of Rembrandt’s subjects! FOCUS PEOPLE!
Why do you assume they’re Americans (besides the fact that we’re so self-centered we assume everything is about us)?
In fact, he taught in Germany and traveled extensively.
I saw a few of these on display at a museum about 10 years ago. Some of them didn’t age well and looked
a bit odd or unrealistic up-close. Otherwise, excellent
’still life’
it’s art…. art on hotties is made by plastic surgeons, not real artists…
This is a fantastic set. I’m not sure if the use of obese people is supposed to symbolise anything deeper about American culture, but the tourist, drug addict, and flea market salsewoman are all excellently identified stereotypes. I would love to see some of this art in person, the detail looks fantastic here.
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I *hate* fat people.
nice distinction between the tourist and the traveller
the rest are great too..esp the flea market vendor
#31, I’m sure fat people *hate* you too, or maybe everyone does.
Very nice, enjoyed it
Quiet facinating
[…] recognised as one of the most accomplished hyper-real sculptors ever.See more samples of his work @ Humemes. Bio from […]
holy crap i recognize these from an art museum i randomly visited in chattanooga, TN like 5 years ago… they are just as lifelike in real life as in the pics - i think i almost peed my pants when i saw one of the sculptures and thought it was a person checking out the museum until it didnt move for like 5 minutes
I wonder if the guy leaning over the “drug addict” is part of the sculpture, or just looking at it?
If you like this stuff, check out art by a guy called Ron Mueck. He does a lot of similar stuff - and not just fat americans
Here’s his wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Mueck
WoW! wish i had the patience and skill to make stuff like this. The guy leaning over the “drug addict” is really confusing me cant tell if he’s part of the piece or looking. also if you like this sorta stuff check out Patricia Piccinini, slightly more surreal but similar technique.
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Piccinini
I think these sculptures are incredible! The “Drug addict with unknown man” is by far my favourite.
Yeah, cause being fat totally reflects what kind of person someone is, right?
Am I right?
Yeah…that’s what I thought.
Get off the fat thing. This isn’t supposed to be a commentary on the health of Americans yada yada. It’s about realism- real people. There’s a lot more ugly people in the world than beautiful.
Hey, here’s a thought: in real life, people range in sizes. Thus, in order to make sculpture that is “super realist,” you have to sculpt people of different sizes.
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good
Wow
Simply brilliant. It figures them only they lack them a slight movement
the traveller is on display at the Orlando airport, but this one has a different set of clothes. (perhaps updated?), but it is the same artist
C’mon people…this guy wasn’t intentionally pointing out how fat Americans are….check the dates. I don’t think anyone was viewing obesity as an epidemic in 1988. Sure, there were a lot of fat people then, but now everywhere you turn you’re faced with the truth about how bad it really is now. Why people think they need to fill 9-inch plates, three times a day still doesn’t make sense to me. EAT SLOWER…give your brain time to realize your stomach is full…cause believe me, it was full like twenty minutes ago. Put your fork down.
Everybody is SO fat! And +, are those even REAL!
THEY
ARE
SO
FAT
!!!
The sculptures are fat because America is fat, you morons. Fat and lazy and downtrodden.
i want to stick one of those in someones house at night and tape them finding it.
their fat because hes a realist! a super realist!
fat americans…
much love from australia
I *hate* people who hate people just because of their size. Some people actually have thyroid problems, and not because they got fat in the first place, but because it’s actually passed down from genes. So they didn’t ask for a thyroid problem or to be overweight. Just keep your own business and don’t get into other peoples because you may not know the whole truth. Sad….
Not all Americans are fat. That’s like saying all Aussies hump kangaroos….well ok, just most of them. It’s like saying all Brits have terrible dental hygene…well ok I stand corrected again. By the way does the UK have any attractive people? Look at them, gangely teeth and most of them look inbred. I guess that’s what happens when you live on an island…shallow gene pool.
Thank you Freak on a Leash. God I tell you some of these pretentious euro trash snobs! At least a fat american can lose weight and look good you nastsies over there will still be pasty ugly and have no teeth! Thank god I live in the U.S. Oh by the way been to europe a few times and if it wasn’t for a lot of alchohol your FAT FAT UGLY chics in the clubs would never get laid!! And you aussies just keep humping your sheep cause they look better than your women!
I’ll bet any of the people that posted hateful stuff consider themselves conservative “christians”
He is an artist. A realist no less. He portrayed what he saw. Oh, and for all you European people out there saying “zomigosh, fatties fat americans” ect…be warned. I’ve traveled Europe extensively. I know you hide away plenty of your own fat cells so step down off your stereotyping high horse and look to your own country before you poke at someone elses. Obesity is an epidemic..and not just in America.
Yea yea there is alot of fat people out there…i dont really care though..im not fat…how does the fact that there are a bunch of fat PEOPLE (not specifically americans) effect me? It doesnt really…anyway, still really amazing work
This is sad. Is that what you most of you guys notice when you looked at these sculptures? Their weight? Gezz people…
Firstly, they are not all “soooo fat.” “Man on a Bench” doesn’t seem particularly overweight to me, and “Young Shopper” is only marginally overweight. As someone else pointed out, the guy is a realist…he’s trying to realistically capture what people look like. If you saw a bunch of skinny people frozen in time, you’d assume they were well-made shop mannequins. It wouldn’t have the same effect. Real people are flawed, and that’s what he’s trying to capture. You’ll also notice that, fat aside, none of the people are conventionally attractive. Many of them are old, and all of them are unflatteringly dressed. I don’t think it’s a commentary on the obesity epidemic, but an attempt to capture images the way a snapshot would: flaws and all.
Great work! Thanks for sharing!! Maybe Americans are overweight because we are the most prosperous and have so much good food so eaily available……
HOLY AWESOME MUCH! i aspire to be you. seriously, rock on.
Hey the last one is in the Orlando Air Port
that is just unbelievable, you have an amazing talent
Regardless who he used as models I believe these pieces are a commentary on middle America. When I saw a couple displayed in a museum, my initial reaction was what are they doing here? They were displayed in the foyer with no pedestals to mark them as “art.” So class was also a part of what he was looking at.
Remember in Rembrandt’s day food was scarce so chubby people were wealthy powerful people.
yuh a.q bu ne la:D
Funny how the world views americans as fat people…fast food nation.
The inspiration for Tourists & Tourist II were actually tourists in Florida in the 60’s. He sculpted them in 1970 (& shortly after). Knowing that they are a tourist… VISITING Florida… VISTING America… I think it’s safe to say that he DID NOT imply that they were Americans… just Tourists.
Hanson did not wax-sculpt those he knew, only people & viewed & met along his travels… KEYWORD BEING TRAVELS. He traveled & saw many people.
People, grow up with the “fat” comments.
You idiots are all so busy focusing on the “fat” issue, you’re missing the point. The art and the technique are fantastic. Kudos to the sculptor!
And some of your morons make me lose yet more faith in the human race. You’re so damn petty….geniuses. Ugh!
It makes anyone do a double-take if you don’t read the story
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Europeans are just as fat and stupid as Americans. There are fat, stupid, and intolerant people all over the world. Get off the high horse; nobody wants to hear you talk about how great your country is.
The guy in the last photo is dreaming of a place where comment threads never get hostile (hint: China). I’d know that look anywhere.
I saw many of these at an exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art - they are incredible!
they’re fat because theres a lot of fat people out there. america is the fattest country in the world, fat worthless douchebags everywhere i look. the sculptures are super realism and they look good to me
great artist but it does really make ya think about fatness. Im sorry I just hate fat people
I have a client in Palm Desert, Calif, who has one of this guys sculptures in his living room(10 mil house). It’s a naked lady lying on a couch. Looked like a cross between Raquel Welch and Cindy Crawford. I was doing a repair to some equipment, security let me in as no one was home. Suprised the shit out of me!
His work on female model type nudes is far superior to his “Fatties”. The detail was awesome.
I stole the sculpture, went to Vegas and got married. She’s been the perfect wife! Just Kidding.
The comments are too funny. Nothing about art–just arguments over fat Americans. But maybe that’s what the artist intended. Or at least the person who chose these pictures. The artist does a lot of other ones with people who aren’t obsese, but he does pick “natural” looking people.
If he chose model-looking subjects for his art no one would have taken him seriously as an artist. It’s something about making things ugly and “hyper realistic”–art critics love that.
[…] Sculture realistiche […]
Darren,
You’re a IDIOT. To think you are an expert on art.
Hanson pulled body-molds from all types of models, therefore none of these are sculpted in a classical sense. He had a crew of mold makers, painters, hair implanters, etc.
Our contemporary hyper-realist sculptor, Ron Muek, was mentioned. Ron Muek’s work is all created as original sculpture with no body casting. Putting Hanson and Muek side by side, Muek’s actually seem more life-like. But realism only goes so far-
Dan,
Love your work.
Thanks for the comment.
The realism is stunning……However, being in the US, most people I know do not even slightly resemble this. Even the fat ones still groom better. Granted, these are from past decades. Some of these look like British people too….
I think these are supposed to disturb people a bit, and not just with their creepy realism, but that they are fat & kind of sad & ridiculous & yet register as familiar.
I’ve met plenty of fat Europeans too…
“Traveller” was in the orlando airport.
my dad thought it was real.
[…] so arresting.” While his work has often been compared to the work of our previous subject, Duane Hanson, it has a very different quality to it. He seems to focus less on making social commentary and far […]
Duane’s works of art are really cool. i am learning about him in my art appreciation class. i like the fact that his arts look really realistic. he did a good job.
I like the realism, but I guess you could make more interesting statues…
i can’t believe i just read 89 comments about fat statues on a friday night…time to get a girlfriend
what does this have to do with sculpture these are just pictures of people.
I think the fat chicks are hot. I have always had a thing for fat chicks. And even the fat guys are quite okay!!!! I bet most of your mums are fat!
this duane hanson dude must be a chubby chaser in real life.
Well these are interesting sculptures and I believe it is a sign of the times.
Fat Americans with low IQ’s. A true reflection of a dumbed down society with no morals.
We are surrounded and fed by media driven propaganda for people with short attention spans.
Your life is what you put into it and it pours out.
Subtle and beautiful, these are great sculptures.
Your article deserves attention.
Extrefox
[…] Slightly creepy. […]
why are most of your people fat
best art guy ever
This is not his complete work. There is the two women sitting on the couch, the motercycle accident, the abortion one, the security guard, the male janitor. His work was based on odd travels and it defied political views and challenged the same ones. He wanted to make you think. His work was of people you wouldn’t take a second look at. The “young shopper” one is beat up and bruised. Maybe that is his attempt to get you to take that second look.
P.S. If you are on here bashing others on a friday night than I think maybe instead of making fat comments you should out there getting a life!
Why doesn’t he produce sculptures of BEAUTIFUL people? I can see UGLY people all day, just by walking down the street. What is the point of reproducing ugliness? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a gallery full of sculptures of the most beautiful people on Earth?
good work
Hanson wasn’t trying to make “beautiful” people. He was trying to show that people, regardless of who they are (doctors, junkies, policemen, janitors etc.) can feel lonely and isolated at times. A quote by Henry David Thoreau that Hanson was fond of was “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”.
By the way, a large number of the sculptures he did aren’t of overweight people. It is easy to think that because 5/7 sculptures shown here show overweight people. I urge you to lookup some of his other works if you are interested in more, “the photographer ” is my favorite one
That is so cool i so thort they where like real im not one with many words but i relly thort it was cool, realy werid but i like werid : )
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I can’t believe more than half of these comments are about the way the sculptures were fat. Instead of commenting on the reality and perfection of these sculptures, these ignorant and obviously self-righteous people HAD to say something totally inappropriate.
What a rude bunch of people.
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