Vagina soap and other great works of art.
August 31st, 2012
I’ve just got back from Hobart and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art). And what a great coup for tourism in Hobart it has been because people are flocking down to the capital of Tassie to visit this unique museum experience. Its owner, the multi-millionaire David Walsh, has put hundreds of items from his private collection on display, creating what he calls a ’subversive adult Disneyland’. My wife Beth and I absolutely loved it (maybe because we are subversive). I have to say, though, this place is not for the culturally incubated, prudish or sexually inhibited. It is an assault of the senses on so many levels, but this in my opinion is the triumph of MONA. There was graphic life-size scenes of castration, a chilling Nitchke suicide machine, a photo of a dog copulating with a man and a poo-machine (as in food is put in a certain time of day which slowly over the day gets turned into excrement – and boy does it reek). There was also brilliant pieces of interactive art and ‘c@#t soap’ for sale in the gift shop (see pic!).
We spent almost five hours at the museum (including a delicious lunch with wine from the winery on premises), but the experience starts before you get there. You get there by the MONA boat (with bar and onboard barista), which is the best way to approach the museum because it gives the strongest sense of its architecture and the way that it is coaxed from the hillside in which it is constructed. In fact, I’d say its up there with the best galleries in the world that I’ve been to. Here are a few more pics (and no more vaginas you’ll be happy to know…)
On the MONA boat leaving Hobart harbour with a snow-clad Mt. Wellington in the background.
Chugging down the Derwent River towards MONA.
Arriving at MONA.
What a way to arrive!
Brett Whiteley’s Snake Wall. Very impressive and not a vagina in sight.
The Fat Car. Love it.
Okay, the hanging horse was a little creepy, but check out the pic on the left?
There were a lot more ’subversive’ art on show, but I won’t show you in case your kids are looking. You’ll have to go for yourself!
On September 3rd, 2012 Candi said:
On September 6th, 2012 Kerry Freeman said: