Headquartered at Macquarie Wharf (MAC) in Hobart, MONA FOMA (Museum of Old and New Art Festival of Music and Art) presents to the masses a plethora of established and emerging avant-garde and contemporary artists. Conrad Shawcross' The ADA Project situated at the MAC1 shed for the festival duration is brooding and dark. A large robot, with a singular light attached at the end of its elongated arm, twirls with mechanical precision. The work offers an interesting perspective on how technology continually and abruptly ruptures society.
Zhang Huan's Berlin Buddha
On the MAC Precinct forecourt, Tasmanian artists Blacksmiths treat entranced revelers with a live performance of metal sculpting in the MAC. Nick Smithies creates a live ethereal soundtrack from the sounds created by the Blacksmiths' work with the furnaces and anvils. Taking the cake for the sweetest piece of art created during the festival, MONA's Vince Trim treats the audience to a live food demo. The creation of his Magic Edible Garden is complete with chocolate trees, macaroons, perfume bottles filled with spirits, and delectable mini-candy apples.
Out at MONA, The Red Queen exhibition continues until April 21, where two contrasting worlds are offered in Kutluğ Ataman's Küba and Paradise. In Küba an army of mismatched armchairs and decrepit TVs are arranged in a large grid where patrons can sit and hear the life stories of Turkish citizens of all ages. In Paradise a similar concept is explored except patrons are invited to watch the stories of Orange County residents off iPads while lying on soft pink carpet surrounded by blue walls. The contrast between the stories from the two worlds is stark and raises questions about privilege and suffering.
Kutluğ Ataman's Paradise
Elsewhere in the museum, Zhang Huan's Berlin Buddha crumbles silently in front of the large cast iron mold that is responsible for its original form. Made entirely from the ash from countless thousands of incense sticks the sculpture reminds of the fragility of legacy against the ravages of time. MONA FOMA is hands down one of the best festivals for contemporary art in Australia.
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