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Duane Hanson
Policeman, 1992/1994

Artwork Info

Artwork title
Policeman
Artist name
Duane Hanson
Date created
1992/1994
Classification
sculpture
Medium
bronze, acrylic enamel, textile, and mixed media
Dimensions
70 in. × 20 in. × 16 in. (177.8 cm × 50.8 cm × 40.64 cm)
Credit
The Doris and Donald Fisher Collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Copyright
© Estate of Duane Hanson / Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York, NY
Permanent URL
https://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/FC.800
Artwork status
Not on view at this time.

Audio Stories

Hanson explains his fascination with everyday people

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transcripts

NARRATOR: 

Ok, so were you? Taken in, I mean. The first time I saw this guy, I walked right by, thinking he was a museum guard. The second time I thought, oh wait — thats a cop. The third time, I stopped in my tracks — hes a sculpture! But the hair, the uniform, the look on his face – its all so unbelievably real.  

 

This got me wondering — why make a sculpture that looks just like an ordinary person. Someone I feel like Ive seen a dozen times before?  

  

DUANE HANSON:  

Whats more interesting than the people?  

 

NARRATOR:  

Thats the artist, Duane Hanson.  

 

HANSON:  

The human form is so close to all of us and we dont really get a chance to analyze it, to look at it because of taboos and staring at people, and its rude and it upsets people. So in this case people look at the work and recognize maybe somebody they know, somebody in their family, somebody they used to know.  

 

I see beauty in the fat ones, and lean ones, and the ugly ones. Ive done older people and young people. Each individual has a certain quality of beauty, I think.  

 

NARRATOR: 

Look at those veins in his arms. And the skin. It looks so…warm-blooded. But this sculpture is actually bronze.  

 

HANSON: 

Theyre painted very lightly and you get more of a fleshy tone. We poke in real hairs and we put in eyes and real clothing. You see, that adds to the illusion so much. 

 

NARRATOR: 

I keep waiting for him to blink. 

 

Slight pause 

 

He never does.  

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Other Works by Duane Hanson

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