Tourists II 1988

Duane Hanson made Tourists II from polyester resin, fiberglass, and mixed media, but sometime between 1970 and 1988. The art of making is so important, right? I think Hanson was interested in this too, using casting to create these lifelike figures, but he also clearly painted the skin, making the figures even more real. The woman, especially, with the slight translucency of her skin, it’s possible to see all the work involved in bringing her to life. Look at the surface of her skin: you can see all these little imperfections, tiny gestures, that add up to a hyperreal effect. Even the slight shine on her skin is so perfectly done! This detail makes the art so compelling. I'm reminded of the work of John De Andrea, who was working with similar themes around the same time, and also exploring the possibilities of realism in sculpture, but with a very different feel. It's a conversation, you know?