Simply titled “Couple Under an Umbrella”, the striking piece is one of three new, previously unseen sculptures currently on display at a solo exhibition showcasing recent works by the acclaimed Australian artist Ron Mueck. On view until the end of October 2013, this is the first major European show since 2005 dedicated to the UK-based artist known for his large-scale, hyperrealist sculptures.

Whether it’s a casually dressed young couple caught in a pensive moment, a weary mother carrying bags of groceries with her baby strapped to her chest, or a nude, middle-aged woman arching backward under the weight of the twigs she carries, Mueck’s meticulously detailed sculptures feel both familiar and extraordinary — leaving them open to endless interpretation.

Eerie and otherworldly, these larger-than-life figures seem deeply absorbed in their activities, withdrawn and unaware of the visitors’ curious, lingering gazes.