In February, the beloved alternative rock band Pavement stole the show at a buzzing event attended by cultured craft beer enthusiasts. The event took place on a muddy lawn just outside one of the world’s most influential art museums. Prior to their performance, the thumping bass of electro-punk icon Peaches brought an aura of sensuality to the scene, diverting attention away from experimental dance shows and an eye-catching installation wall featuring anatomically accurate vaginas. Dressed in carefully curated tatters and vibrant rainbow-themed attire, these fashionable individuals had gathered not in trendy Brooklyn, but deep down under, in the charming city of Hobart, Tasmania.
Since its opening in 2011, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) has become a prestigious destination to visit. It first caught my attention while I was in New York, where a friend raved about it as “the coolest art museum in the world.” One of the standout exhibits my friend mentioned was Wim Delvoye’s thought-provoking work “Cloaca Professional,” a complex machine that simulates the digestive system of an animal and visibly transforms food into feces right before your eyes. Fans are drawn to Hobart each year for the highly anticipated Dark Mofo winter festival.
The unconventional founder of MONA, Tasmanian native David Walsh, has an equally fascinating story. Initially making a fortune through his horse racing betting syndicate, Walsh invested $75 million in renovating the Moorilla Museum of Antiquities into the innovative art space it is today. This contemporary museum, nestled deep within the exposed stone cliffs, features a labyrinthine campus with daring artworks and hosts a wide range of events. MONA boasts its own high-concept restaurant, a vineyard, party ferries, and even a brewery. Plans for a hotel are currently underway. Unlike other museums that are simply included in travel itineraries, MONA (with tickets starting at $23) and its two annual festivals, Mona Foma and Dark Mofo, have emerged as influential drivers of Tasmanian tourism. This small island just north of Antarctica now has serious cultural credibility thanks to its unique offerings for lovers of the peculiar and the audacious.
“Our defining concert in 2009 featured Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds,” stated Brian Ritchie, the artistic director of both MONA events and bassist for the iconic Violent Femmes. “It sent a clear message that we were the new kids on the block. Instantly, we achieved tremendous success.” Today, MONA attracts over 500,000 visitors annually to Tasmania. The multi-day festivals, which align with the summer and winter solstices, draw tens of thousands more people. “On average, visitors stay for nine days,” Ritchie added. “When people attend the festival, they also explore the countryside, try surfing, and visit wineries. It has significantly enhanced Tasmania’s reputation.” MONA also boasts trendy food and beverage spots like Faro, where visitors can indulge in good food, drinks, and merry celebrations.
While MONA hosts an array of music and events throughout the year, its next major event, Mona Foma, takes place during the peak of the Southern Hemisphere summer. What can attendees expect? They don’t know for sure. “We’re always unsure of what will happen,” states the museum’s website (ticket prices will be announced soon). “In previous years, we’ve seen music performances on lawns, in both small and large concrete structures, in a planetarium, and even in an unusual church. Art is everywhere, including mesmerizing laser displays and interactive robots playing table tennis.” So, if you’ve exhausted the typical commercialized music festival scene, why not book something truly extraordinary and off the beaten path? Mona Foma is guaranteed to be the most original and memorable experience you’ve had yet. “We simply take action,” said Ritchie. “We continuously innovate and evolve our festivals. They’re not repetitive like many others. We have the freedom to constantly bring something new to the table.”
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
