Duane Hanson:

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Duane Hanson
The man and his work.
by Alexandra Logue, period 3
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I'm not duplicating life. I'm making a statement
about human values. -Duane Hanson
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Duane Hanson, born in Minnesota on 17 January
1925, began creating shockingly realistic
life-sized sculptures of humans in the early
1970s.
His work is a prime example of the
super-realist movement of the late 1960s and
early 1970s.
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His paintings have been described as vignettes
of rural American life, and I can think of no
better way to describe them. His astounding
attention to detail paired with his ability to
capture one big picture produces strikingly
realistic works of art.
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His fans describe his work as having a common
underlying humanity. The Palm Springs Desert
Museum says, Hanson's sculptures capture a
realism that compels the viewer to approach the
figures for a closer look. The viewer is
challenged to question the distinction between
reality and illusion. His critics say his work
is too full of deadpan dullness. Other artists
in the hyper-realist movement include George
Segal, Edward Kienholz, and John DeAndrea.
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Inspiration Having grown up in a Minnesota
farming community, Hansons work draws
inspiration from his rural mid-western
upbringing. All of his subjects are true
representations of the American everyman and
everywoman and that is what makes them so
powerful, that we can connect to them and see our
peers and relatives, if not ourselves, in them.
Hanson instructing a model.
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Hanson said that his sculptures were an extension
of his social conscience "I show the
empty-headedness, the fatigue, the aging, the
frustration. These people can't keep up with the
competition. They're left out, psychologically
handicapped."
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Woman and Dog (1977)
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Tourists II (1988) autobody filler, fibreglass
and mixed media, with accessories life size
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Man on a bench (1997-98) autobody filler,
fibreglass and mixed media, with accessories life
size
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Queenie II (1988) autobody filler, fibreglass
and mixed media, with accessories life size
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Young Shopper (1973) polyester and fibreglass,
polychromed in oil, with accessories life size In
the words of the artist I like the physical
burdens this woman carries.  She is weighted down
by all of her shopping bags and purchases, and
she has become almost a bag herself.  She carries
physical burdens the burdens of life, of
everyday living.  But initially, its quite a
funny sculpture.
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Woman with child in stroller (1985) autobody
filler, polyvinyl and mixed media, with
accessories life size
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Elements of Design
Colors sallow skin, grey hair,vivid dress is a
stark contrast Shape her posture is realistic,
slumping and a bit depressed Texture the skins
wrinkles and varicose veins are startlingly
realistic Space three-dimensional and altogether
strikingly life-like!
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Principles of Design
Balance the sweater and placement of the purse
enhance the subjects poor posture Proportion
all of the proportions are true to life Unity
again, all true to life Repetition different
colors from her accessories and sweater pick up
details from her dress, it is sort of an outfit
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Self-Portrait with Model (1979)
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Process All of his sculptures were cast from
real-life models, then painted with great
attention to detail and completed with hair,
clothes, and various life-size props.
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Materials
polyester resinfibreglassauto body filler
(bondo)bronze (later in his life)real,
life-size clothing props
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Duane Hanson died 6 January 1996 of cancer in
Boca Raton, Florida.
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Works cited http//museum.oglethorpe.edu/Hanson.h
tm http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Hanson http
//www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/duane_hanson.h
tm http//www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/hanson_dua
ne.html http//www.designboom.com/eng/funclub/duan
ehanson.html http//www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/
A0822656.html http//www.tfaoi.com/aa/2aa/2aa206.h
tm Book Hanson, Duane. Portraits from the
Heartland. New Rivers Press, 2004. Article
Duane Hanson by Mark M. Johnson in Arts
Activities, June 2004.