From 13 to 24 June, the Museum of Old and New Art’s (Mona) winter solstice celebrations return to Tasmania with a colourful line-up of art, music, food and more. ‘Dark Mofo’ delves into human rituals to explore the links between ancient and contemporary mythology, man and nature, religious and secular traditions, darkness and light, birth, death and renewal.
The sixth annual festival kicks off with the Prelude from 7 to 10 June, featuring ‘Dark + Dangerous Thoughts’ – a confluence of film, literature, performance and ideas, plus a masked costume ball. Major show openings include ‘ZERO’ at Mona and ‘A Journey to Freedom’ at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Weeks one and two will see musical performances by Laurie Anderson (USA), St. Vincent (USA), Chrysta Bell (USA), Electric Wizard (UK), Alice Glass (CAN), Marlon Williams (NZ), Lydia Lunch (USA) and others. Art to travel for includes Ryoji Ikeda (JPN), United Visual Artists (UK) and Matthew Schreiber (USA). Exhibitions will be staged across the city of Hobart and beyond, such as a collaboration between Constance ARI and Risdon Prison inmates and immersive after-dark experiences at historic sites. Tim Minchin will present his first Australian solo performance in nearly a decade, while journalist Peter Greste will interview former violent jihadist Muhammad Manwar Ali. Other notable events include the Winter Feast, Dark Park, and the Nude Solstice Swim.
Matthew Schreiber, Ricochet, 2017, Day for Night, Houston, Texas. Photograph: Theo Civitello. Courtesy the artist and Dark Mofo, Tasmania
