The MONA is probably what put Hobart, and Tasmania overall, on the tourist map. It is the biggest private art collection in Australia, and a pet project of its multimillionaire founder, David Walsh, a talented mathematician turned professional gambler who made his fortune with Black Jack and betting on race tracks. His collection is dedicated to “sex and death” and we are mentally preparing ourselves to have some interesting conversations with the kids. The museum is set on the outskirts of Hobart, in the midst of vineyard. They offer their own ferry shuttle service and as we stand on Brooke Street Pier at 9am to take the first ride across, we already crack up at the sight of the ferries, all clad military style. We only have regular tix, so we don’t access the “Posh Pit” 😄 but take a seat between the sheep statues at the bar end.
Once arrived at the grand staircase leading up to the museum, we see a full size green/orange tennis court – totally random, and the story behind despite my digging, seems indeed to be just totally random – and a trampoline with bells attached that you can make chime as you jump. The signs around are copy-written in line with the tone of the place, from the “keep off the grass” one designed as a “Humanoid Exclusion Zone” to the recycling bins with a suicidal stickman. The MONA is an instant hit with the family.
The museum is set up basement style, i.e. all the exhibitions are 1-3 floors underground, in line with the subversive flair the designers want to give the space, I suppose. We get each equipped with our own little iPod with the MONA app – there are no signs or explanations around the artworks themselves, everything is to be found on the app. Besides the explanations, there are interviews with the artists and for several pieces, really great information especially designed for kids. You can also use the iPod to scan certain pieces, allowing us to access some 3D virtual immersion. No question, this is super well done.
First off, the absolutely spectacular digital water installation by the German artist Julius Popp: the bit.fall, a two-story pulsing waterfall of 128 computer-controlled nozzles that briefly drip a display of words streamed from real-time Google searches. At the time, Meghan and Harry had just announced their separation from the royal funding, so “duchess” popped up quite a few times. The idea is beautiful in its simplicity: bit.fall is connected to a computer that adds up how often words are being searched on the internet. Then it makes these words from water, and lets them fall through the air. Why water? The idea is that the water falls in much the same as the way thoughts move in your head when you think: fast and bright. Ideas can come very quickly, and words move from here to there as fast as we can think. “For a moment, you can see one word hang in the air, as if all the world has paused just for you. It’s almost as if we can read the mind of the world. A word falls, and then another one appears, and then another, and that is how fast words are moving everywhere, and that is our big and complicated world, filled with questions and stories. One word at a time. Made of water. Just like you.” Between the grandeur and the peacefulness of the sound of the dripping, splashing water, we are all mesmerised. We will see quite a few other cool pieces that day, but this one remains, by far, our favorite one.
The next section is dedicated to a special 3D installation by Simon Denny – “MINE”. Not sure I really get it, but there are a few pieces I really enjoy: from the “Anatomy of an AI system” – an anatomical case study of the Amazon echo as an artificial intelligence system made of human labor to the “Amazon worker cage” designed to protect the – still, for now, human – operator from AI going awry, surrounded by virtual reality birds, these pieces really speak to me. There are quite a few spectacular pieces, some that the kids enjoy in particular like the modern take of the ancient Roman and Greek concept of a private “Grotto”, by Randy Polumbo, though they particular loved the music track on the MONA app that went with it, dancing up and down the cushions. I suppose this is what “getting close to art” is really about. They are also somewhat mesmerised by the TV installation cum nostalgia-infused karaoke in ‘Queen (A Portrait of Madonna),’ by video artist Candice Breitz. 30 Madonna fans sing the entire ‘Immaculate Collection’ album – a capella. Not my cup of tea, but the kids like it. Some pieces are grand, some scandalous (though a lot less than we had expected, or maybe being married to Thierry for nearly 12 years means I am not longer easily scandalised 🤣), many interactive and pretty much all of them tongue in cheek. I personally like “Fat car”, which translates its multi-layered message much better in its original German name “Fettes Auto”, by Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm. He plumped up an existing Porsche with styrofoam and fiberglass, resulting in a chubby version of the original sportsy model. The sculpture takes on the question of obesity, probing the link between power, wealth and body weight, as well as a take on our current consumption obsessed value system. It makes me smile and the kids think it’s cool.
“Fettes Auto” 
Time to head back – this time, on tigers
Several hours later, emerging from the darkness, we have a nice lunch in the beautiful garden overlooking the water and head back on our ferry, this time, jungle themed.
A great day!