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

Pope Joan.

My sisters and I have visited Pope Joan numerous times, enjoying their incredible mix of garden-to-table flavours, warm atmosphere and friendly vibes given off by the staff. From their incredible ‘Cornish’ sandwich - a toasted bun filled with warm chicken, stuffing, jalapenos and cos lettuce, paired with their crinkle-cut chips and tomato relish - to their pumpkin and haloumi pies, perfect for winter, each dish is absolutely flawless. 

Owned by the one and only Matt Wilkinson - previous chef at Vue de monde, Alevansi and Circa, Pope Joan brings together a rustic and homely range of dishes, and if you’re lucky enough to sneak in after noon, you’ll be able to try the specials for the day. Besides the fantastic food, their coffees are definitely worth raving about. Their endless drinks menu houses the forever-changing flavours of their spritzers (either alcoholic or non-alcoholic), fragrant chai lattes and beautiful winter warmers. 

They don’t stop just there for breakfast - due to the success and positive feedback, Pope Joan has just recently opened up for dinner! Their original dishes and desserts are definitely show-stopping and will keep you going back for more! I cannot recommend this place more than enough!

If you walk two hundred metres down Nicholson Street, you will find their produce store, Hams and Bacon, which stocks fresh produce from the Pope Joan garden and from local producers. They run 'meet the producers' nights, where the people that provide stock to the Hams and Bacon store come in and talk about the process they go through to grow their food. 

If you're ever in Brunswick, check this hidden gem out. 

Pope Joan

77-79 Nicholson Street, 

Brunswick East. 

- C

Mosaik.

Mosaik has been an idea that has been in planning for a few months now and we are so happy to finally launch. We are a group of ten girls with skills and passions in areas such as art, design, textiles,writing and photography, working together to craft an online magazine and source to promote local Melbourne business and life.

The name ‘Mosaik’ was decided because it translates to ‘mosaic’ in Swedish. Scandinavian design is all about simplicity and minimalism and that is the aesthetic we hope to project. To further this, each of the ten girls working on this magazine has different skills in areas of design and art culture, and this works to our advantage, as our differences combine to create the magazine as a whole. We acknowledge that Mosaik is still a working process and will continue to evolve. Just like mosaics we are not perfect; Mosaic's have broken edges, they are rough clusters of many little fragments but there is a beautiful simplicity to gathering these shattered pieces and putting them together.

Mosaik is ultimately bringing together a group of friends who want to share with the world their love for creativity and life in general, therefore, our magazine will have sub-sections that cover travel, food, film, fashion, music, literature, art, DIY, and the wonderful humans we meet along the way. After two months of meetings, lots of cups of teas, and many changes to plans, we are so glad to finally be publicly launching Mosaik.

We hope you all enjoy reading the range of posts that will be shared over the coming weeks, months, and, hopefully, years, and always love hearing ways that you think our magazine can be improved.

Thank you so much for supporting this project, and keep smiling,

Christine.

Christine’s greatest asset is her smile. Lighting up the room like a million little candles, she compels so much happiness and positivity into other’s lives. An avid designer and creator, she is currently studying Industrial Design, and is never seen without a fineliner nearby. Constantly putting pen to paper, Christine is always brainstorming and sketching innovative products and projects. Her bedroom an organized mess, she is always barricaded by folio pages, paint palettes, and design books.  In the future she hopes to also try out teaching. Christine is incredibly loyal, and will always put others before herself. Always up for an adventure, you can often find Christine trying out new Melbourne cafes, exploring the city, or visiting galleries and exhibitions. The world is a brighter and happier place with Christine in it. 

- N

Tess.

Tess is by far the least boring person you will ever meet, there is never a dull conversation or moment you will experience with her, everything about her and every moment spent with Tess is oh so memorable, in every way possible. The first time I met Tess honestly we didn’t get along, but this was when we were thirteen. I began to become good friends with Tess near the end of our high school years, she introduced me to great music, she would insist on making me playlists, changing and improving my whole preference of music. Most people know Tess for her undying love for Nine Inch Nails and her great snap chats of her glorious feline Buddy. Tess is a creative person; she never limits herself and always wants to experience new places and concepts, she takes an interest in the quirky kinds of things in life, as she is a quirky character herself. Tess is one of the most individual and likable people I know, everything she creates or does, she always retain her own Tess kind of style, which definitely separates her from the crowd. All this makes her the great friend, cat owner and the amazing and exceptional person she is to me and all her other friends.

- D

Olivia.

The forever creative, never boring evil mastermind with a heart of gold.

Studying Advertising , this girl knows how to work everything from water colour and finer liner to Adobe Illustrator. Her creative energy is fresh, vibrant and very playful.  She also uses her creative skills and all the spare time she has to invest in creating memes and finding videos to spring on all her friends. Or she is just rewatching episodes of the Simpsons or Seinfeld.

Every time you see Olivia she will always have a crazy, typical Olivia  story that could only ever happen to her. Whether it’s burning a batch of brownies or ordering the wrong meal at a restaurant, life is never a dull moment when she is around. She will out wit and out smart you and leave you embarrassed and most likely humiliated. But besides all of that, she has an absolute heart of gold! When it comes down to it, she has everyone’s best interests at heart and will do anything for her family and friends. Her kindness, loyalty, generosity and love can be matched by no other and she is always there for a heart warming chat, or simply just a good laugh.

- S

Darcy.

I have only a vague idea of when or where I met Isabella, or Darcy as she is more commonly known, but I’m glad I did. I think we were brought together by our shared love for art, Asian food and Lana Del Rey. When I think of Darc I instantly think of cats; her world revolves around them. (If you saw her Instagram you would think she was part of a cat cult. For real though.) She is the ultimate cat lady and yet she doesn’t have a cat of her own (I have initiated a campaign called Cats4Darcy2014 to raise awareness and combat this injustice.)

Apart from being a crazy cat lady Isabella is an amazing artist as well as the sweetest, kindest and most lovely person. She is constantly thinking about others and she is so accepting of everyone and every ones differences. She doesn’t let anything define her, especially not other people’s expectations.  

I asked her for a quote that sums her up and she gave me one from a Studio Ghilibi film called Neko no ongaeshi 'The Cat Returns' (of course).

“Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are you will have nothing to fear” Darcy is currently studying Fine Arts at Monash University and has a very bright future ahead of her I am sure.                                                                                                          

- A