Works by an internationally acclaimed sculptor are turning heads in Belfast.

It is the first time the work of Ron Mueck has been exhibited in Ireland.

The son of parents who were toy makers and puppeteers, he began his career as a model-maker working in advertising, film and television, before turning to sculpture.

Mr Mueck likes to play with scale while also focusing on minute detail.

His work In Bed is on the larger side and makes quite an impression dominating an exhibit hall in the MAC arts venue in Belfast city centre.

It is one of seven pieces on display that take the viewer along the life cycle, from birth to adolescence, through middle age and old age, to death.

Whatever the scale, the Australian is renowned for attention to detail.

"The detail is quite striking," MAC curator Hugh Mulholland said.

"It's always an exhibition that we knew that once people saw it, it would gain traction through word of mouth and that's what's happened so we're averaging about 500 people a day," he said.

"People are mesmerised by the work and it's that attention to detail that I think people relate to, but also Ron's subject matter is about the human condition so I think we can relate to it because we see ourselves reflected in the subject as well," he added.

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Actor Pierce Brosnan took a break from filming in Belfast to pop in to see it and afterwards advised his Instagram followers to check it out, saying it "will bedazzle you".

"I saw his work exhibited before so just had to come when I heard it was in my home city," said a mother who took her three young daughters to see the exhibition.

"It's just unreal. The hyperrealism is just sensational, so I thought I'd bring the kids down to experience it and see how they felt," she added.

The verdict of the kids?

"It's really cool," was the reply.

The exhibition runs until 20 November and admission is free.

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