Hobart and our visit to MONA

4 February 2020

Hobart and our visit to MONA
On the way to Tasmania we saw hundreds of fires, the whole valley up in smoke. Wherever we travelled we felt the danger and sadness of human, home, plant and animal loss
Hobart and our visit to MONA
We headed to MONA, our first encounter with Simon Denny’s solo show which is this human-sized Amazon worker cage
Hobart and our visit to MONA
There was tech everywhere, an education on environment and preservation of the lands and animals
Hobart and our visit to MONA
The indoor sculpture park had many surprises such as Antony Gormley’s emergency service workers
Hobart and our visit to MONA
Also full of surprises was the Nam June Paik standing to attention at one of the many tunnels that took us on a new adventure
Hobart and our visit to MONA
Meanwhile back at Zabludowicz Collection, MA curatorial students had dusted up our Nam June Paik and created a show called ‘No horizon, no edge to liquid’. Exploring the concept of cultural hybridity as a space in which cultures meet: where bridges are built between societies through the processes of communication, negotiation, and translation
Hobart and our visit to MONA
We were also opening Invites: Laurence Owen - wall-based, multi-media sculptures incorporating a vast range of materials including ceramic, Jesmonite, oil paint, wood and copper
Hobart and our visit to MONA
Back at MONA, the galleries were full of intriguing artworks by many artists I have never come across, such as young Sydney artist Juz Kitson
Hobart and our visit to MONA
By chance we came across this monolithic temple by Ai Weiwei which was beautiful and haunting
Hobart and our visit to MONA
Olivia descending the stairs of Alfredo Jaar’s ‘The Divine Comedy’. A plunge into purgatory, heaven and hell, courtesy of the artist (via Dante, of course)
Hobart and our visit to MONA
Kirsha Kaechele and David Walsh hosting us on their magnificent table made of moss
Hobart and our visit to MONA
Meanwhile, all the way in London, Alex Israel’s show ‘Always on My Mind’ opened at Gagosian. Alex explores the self, he creates a body of work reflecting his life and hometown LA
Hobart and our visit to MONA
We are gearing up for the BFAMI Gala in February where Edmund de Waal is guest of honour
Hobart and our visit to MONA
There are some amazing works up for auction, such as this Annie Leibovitz photograph taken on the day John Lennon was shot