Living in Tasmania we are so fortunate to have MONA - Musuem of Old and New Art, often controversial, filled with art to love/to hate. The building itself, inside and out, is an artwork and marvel of engineering, style and beauty. I am feeling a need to be challenged and to visit MONA again this year, perhaps in Spring.
image: Gina with Whiteley - image by Anne O'Connor 2021
You may have read/heard about the fake Picasso hanging in the Ladies Lounge at MONA - such deliciousness to get your head around. Is this conceptual art, performance art, art for the masses or art for the few? The 'Picasso' hung in the Ladies Lounge for 3 years and 7 months before being 'outed' because a man was offended and took the artist Kirsha Kaechele to court for gender discrimination as only women were allowed into the Ladies Lounge. From my reading, it was even hung upside down!
Krisha's blog post on the MONA Blog is a great read - i enjoyed it immensely. Titled 'Art is Not Truth: Pablo Picasso' This ABC News article delves into the artist's intention and how the situation evolved into its own
There is a heavy divide between support and admonishment however my thinking is this 'stunt' has done exactly what art is meant to - it has brought a visceral response, emotional connection (for and against) and a sorely-needed discussion about art and what it is - or not. This from a blog called Prazzle.
On my last visit to MONA in 2021 I enjoyed the Ladies Lounge immensely - THAT Picasso features heavily in my video below.
A few images of artworks that appealed to me.
This room is amazing ... shades of Escher for me.
20:50 is an art installation created by Richard Wilson in 1987 using sump engine oil because it is not see-through like other oils.. This is a room built out of sump oil and steel. The oil fills the whole room with a bridge that goes straight into the centre of the room. The oil is waist deep but you cant tell because the reflections of the ceiling creates an optical illusion. This is a fantastic work of art with amazing optical illusions and reflections into the still oil.
more info on this work at Elephant and read about the journey on MONA's blog written by David Walsh.
The Whiteley is a favourite of mine for many years now - use the arrow to go through the slideshow
SILOAM -An underground tunnel system. The blog article begins like this "The Pharoh's wing, opened in 2017, included a tunnel to nowhere. David (Walsh) figured he'd work out later what to put there. Nonda Katsalidis, architect: "Stop building tunnels for no reason". (Read the blog post here)
many opportunities for selfies in reflected surfaces.
and what a finish to the day - a beverage outside listening to a Jazz ensemble.
revisiting these images and reading MONA's blog I am excited to plan my next visit.
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