The entrance stairs to MONA.
I spent a rainy afternoon yesterday at MONA: The Museum of Old and New Art here in Hobart. Just opened last week, the museum combines ancient artifacts with brand-new contemporary installations. I gotta say, the place is cool. In fact, it may be the coolest museum I’ve ever been to.
The mirrored entrance to MONA. I couldn't resist taking a photo of myself taking a photo. That's me in the middle.
To get there, I took the MONA ferry from the center of Hobart up the Derwent River. As the ferry serves champagne, wine and beer, it’s a pretty nice ride. From the ferry, you walk up a steep flight of stairs lined with sandstone to the entrance.
Once at MONA, you can dine in one of three restaurants, do a Tasmanian wine or beer tasting or even stay there. There are no maps or labels about the art in the museum. Instead, you get the O. A touch screen phone device that you hang around your neck, the O gives you as much or as little info as you want about the art. Just touch the O so it can locate where you are, then a list of nearby paintings comes up. You can just read the painting name and artist, or you can get more information and an interview with the artist. You can even make your own statement as to whether you like or dislike the work and then you’ll find out how many other museum patrons agreed with your choice.
In the collection, there are works by David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jenny Holzer, as well as Australians Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Brett Whiteley. There are amazing pieces such as a waterfall that creates words and Snake Love, a snake shaped out of 1,620 pieces of paper. And there are pieces that could definitely be considered by many as downright disgusting and pornographic.
The rainy view from the ferry dock as we were getting ready to leave.
MONA is the brainchild of David Walsh, who is said to have collected all the art from around the world and created the museum thanks to gambling winnings. Walsh calls the place a “subversive adult Disneyland.” Whatever you may want to call it, it’s definitely worth a look. Entrance is free, but if you take the ferry, you pay $15 for the round trip.
{ 5 comments }
Looks like a day well spent. I especially appreciate stories about how things come together from a lifestyle such as David Walsh at such a young age. Would be grand to see this place…along with some of the anticipated rock stars!!
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wow..wish I was there with you!
Debora, It was just your kind of museum. You would absolutely love it.
Looks amazing; thank you, cool museums that break the mold!
Marty: I agree. We need many more creative museums.
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