MONA.

On separate trips to Hobart, Tasmania some of us got the chance to visit the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), an exhibition space for the macabre, the controversial and the inspiring works of celebrated national and international artists.  Entering the gallery is like entering another world not dictated by time or money but rather by art, and its ability to implicate those who view it.

We were unable to write a full article for the MONA and it’s current exhibition “The Red Queen” as we all held such strong and varying views, the only thing we could agree on was that the title of the gallery was appropriate as going down the glass elevator of the museum was like falling down the rabbit hole into what was perhaps, the sinister world of Wonderland. As a result, we (A, B, and M) decided to answer 'express experience' questions on to present our unique experiences and views of MONA.
 
 
                                                                                                               

Express Experience I. 

What made you go to the MONA?

A few people I knew had gone earlier in the year and had recommended it to me because they knew how much I loved art. So we booked our Hobart weekend purely around our visit to the gallery.

When you think about the MONA what is the first image that comes to your head?

I think of the first site of the building as we arrived in the museums private ferry the MONA ROMA. Just the architecture of the building projected a modern ambiguity that was carried through the entire trip. It was the same feeling you get as a kid when you are about to entire a haunted house, it is simultaneously daunting and compelling.

Were you inspired?

I was more in awe of the works then personally inspired. Each instillation was so thought provoking  and every artwork left an impression. I was inspired by Laith McGregor’s Gnip Gnop to eventually buy a very plain ping pong table and invite friends over to help me decorate it.

What artwork still haunts you?

There were a few that left me completely disturbed including Wim Delvoye’s Cloaca Professional, an artwork that mechanically displays the human digestive system. I am also still haunted by the beep of the huge software installation on the second level of the museum.

What was your favourite moment?

My favourite moment was  entering Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Pulse Room and watching each light bulb beat to the rhythm of someones heart, I thought it was so beautiful.
My other favourite moment was also going to the bar on the third floor after our visit and we were trying to work out whether it was actually an operating bar or another instillation.

Would you go back?

Yes I definitely would, I think the gallery will continue to acquire and display amazing pieces of art that will force you to question parts of your life.

Have any of the artworks made you view things in your life differently?

Julius Popp’s instillation bit.fall has made me so much more aware of how present the media’s constant flow of fact, or more correctly opinion, affects me.

- A

Express Experience II.

What made you go to the MONA?

Studying Fine Arts at university, half of my life is spent in a world where gallery talk is more common than talk of current affairs. I had heard that the gallery was quite controversial and not to everyone’s taste;  so naturally I have been hanging out to go to the Mona for a while. When A suggested the trip I didn’t even give it a second thought.

When you think about the MONA what is the first image that comes to your head?
To be honest, the first thought that comes to mind is Cloaca Professional by Wim Delvoye. I can only attribute this to the fact that it was the most ‘obtrusive’ of all pieces there and was an assault on all the senses… something I am not likely to forget in a hurry.

Were you inspired?

Like A, I wouldn’t say I was personally inspired by the works at Mona in regards to my own art practice. I found the subject matter to be very dark (as was the exhibition’s intention) and that contrasts heavily with my love of all things bright and aesthetically pleasing. As with all exhibitions I visit however I was inspired purely by the production of work and each artists different practice. It continues to amaze me how different humans can think and so I love seeing things that I don’t particularly like or would be inspired by myself because it shows me how broad art making can be. If I was to pick out one piece I was most inspired by it would be the wind powered drawing machine constructed by Cameron Robbins. I had heard about this installation before but seeing it in action was amazing. I loved the focus on process rather than end product -although the finished drawings were definitely ethereal works of beauty.

What artwork still haunts you?

The images in an installation on the second level of the museum still give me chills when I think about them. The work was referring to the treatment of albinos in Tanzania as they are thought to hold magical healing powers and are often mistreated due to this fact. There was one grainy photograph in particular of a baby who had had it’s limbs ripped off that made me turn away and move on. The harshness of the work helped it to be successful in bringing awareness to this issue and although confronting I appreciate that the artist kept the disturbing images small and able to be overlooked with the portraits of Tanzanian people -including albino’s- as the central focus.

What was your favourite moment?

The first part of the day was magical. Seeing the isolated building while on a specially designed ferry made the whole experience more special and unlike anything I had seen before. It is a very cleverly designed building and really makes you feel as if you are entering a whole other world -the art world ! The start of the journey also held Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Pulse Room which really did take my breath away. It was the perfect start to the exhibition as it encouraged a sense of community within the building with all the visitors heartbeats displayed together creating an incredible pattern of pulsating light.

Would you go back?

I would go back to MONA but not necessarily the Red Queen exhibition. I love the diverse way the show was curated and its thought provoking subject matter and would love to see it again reworked with new pieces and a different intention.

Have any of the artworks made you view things in your life differently?

I wouldn’t say they did dramatically as I didn’t feel I related to the works as I often do when visiting other shows. There were some drawings however that did make me reevaluate mental illness and obsession as the drawings were so bizarre and beyond anything I feel my mind could conceive and the fact that he dedicated so many years to the production of this storyline was unfathomable to me.

- B

Wind Section- Instrumental 

Cameron Robbins

Express Experience III.

What made you go to MONA?

I have always enjoyed viewing art and visiting galleries, and advertising I saw during a previous trip to Hobart which highlighted MONA as unique and controversial really sparked my interest. When it was proposed that myself and two friends should take a weekend trip down to visit I jumped at the chance.

When you think about the MONA what are the first images that come into your head?

I think of the stunning Tasmanian landscape that surrounds the gallery. Travelling by ferry from Sullivan’s Cove and observing the panoramic views is the perfect way to begin the day. I also visualise the most striking art pieces; The Pulse Room, data.tron / data.matrix and The Death Gallery.

Were you inspired?

I myself am not an artist, so visiting the gallery didn’t really have the potential to change my attitude towards creating art however I have gained a much deeper appreciation for Modern Art and the innovative ways in which art pieces can be used to convey messages about life and the world.

What artwork still haunts you?

The upturned boat housing a haunting and almost hypnotic film about genetics, more specifically individuals with two different coloured eyes and the theory about what occurred in the womb continues to be very clear in my mind. The large scale data installation was also very confronting, the numerous combinations of flashing data and the repeated sharp, high pitched beeping definitely contributed to a sense of unease. Standing in queue to enter an enclosed gallery next to this exhibit was a very uncomfortable 20 minutes.

What was your favourite moment?

The Pulse Room was my favourite piece. It was just such a beautiful concept seeing everyone’s unique heart rates beating in harmony and I really loved that it involved the museum visitors. Being the first artwork we viewed it was a truly special moment and really got us excited for the rest of the day. Having a play on the quirky ping pong table was also really fun.

Would you go back?

Definitely! I’m sure they’ll continue to develop their collection over time and I believe you take something different from an art piece every time you look at it so I think it would be interesting to return in a year or two to see how my understanding of the messages behind the art works has changed.

Have any artworks made you view things in your life differently?

I’m unsure as to whether it was artist Ryoji Ikeda's intention but personally, the large scale piece data.tron / data.matrix presented a sinister and invasive side of technology that I hadn’t quite considered in that way before.

- M

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s 

Pulse Room