Dark Mofo 2019: Curator puts his faith in the forests

The works, the artists and the themes are what create the successes – and the controversies – of Dark Mofo, says the event’s curator. SEE THE VIDEOS AND TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

DARK Mofo curator Jarrod Rawlins says the event has not targeted any religion in its 2019 “forest” theme, despite a number of festival exhibits drawing biblical parallels.

The winter festival drew criticism in recent years with claims of disrespecting Christianity through a number of exhibitions, including the three-day burial of a man underground last year and the sacrificial killing of a bull the year before.

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Dark Mofo curator Jarrod Rawlins at the Mine exhibition at Mona. Picture: FIONA HARDING

Last year inverted crosses were erected around Hobart’s waterfront and this year the crosses returned, standing upright.

The Australian Christian Lobby hit out at the winter festival for its use of crosses saying it promoted “pagan practices and demonic activities”.

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Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael with one of the crosses being installed on Hobart’s waterfront this week. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

But Citywide Baptist Church Pastor Matt Garvin said Christian references within Dark Mofo’s marketing also created a positive narrative.

“I am pleased that the cross is the centre of dialogue, pleased it’s the right way up and pleased it’s propelling people to talk about it,” he said.

He said he thought the festival appeared to have lessened its religious connotations this year but some initiatives, such as handing out 666 free beers at the Hanging Garden opening on Wednesday night, were “concerning”.

Earlier this week C3 Church Hobart senior pastor Shaun White delivered a “Why I’m Pentecostal” presentation at the Odeon Theatre which Pastor Garvin said was a positive sign of Christians being proactive rather than reactive.

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Mr Rawlins denied the festival targeted religion for marketing purposes.

“Honestly, it’s all about strong themes and good content for us — that’s the real key message,” he said.

“We let the work, the artist and the themes that come out of that create the successes, the controversies, whatever they may be.”

Mr Rawlins said this year’s festival, which celebrates a “forest” theme, was tracking well since kicking off on Thursday.

“This is the first festival for me where I feel like it’s just running seamlessly,” he said.

“We’ve really been looking at forest as a theme which visitors will see throughout the event.”

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

■ Mike Parr, Towards a Black Square, Q&A 1pm at the Odeon Theatre.

■ Paul Yore, It’s All Wrong But It’s Alright, 3-8pm, at Black Temple Gallery.

■ Briggs, 10.15pm-12am at Altar.

■ Compo$t, 2-8pm, Old Hobart Blood Bank & Merchant Store.

■ Tony Albert, Confessions, 12-5pm at Contemporary Art Tasmania.

Exhibition digs deep into mining

MONA visitors can experiment with augmented reality and navigate a giant life-size board game as part of a new museum exhibition aimed at highlighting the link between resource and data mining.

Launched on Friday at Mona, Mine is the interactive exhibition by New Zealand artist Simon Denny, which explores the role technology plays in environmental damage.

The exhibition’s layout creates a path for visitors to walk through what looks like the showroom of a trade show for the mining industry.

The catalogue for the installation is in the form of a giant playable game based on sheep-farming board game Squatter.

Artist Simon Denny opens his new exhibition Mine at Mona. Picture: FIONA HARDING

Mr Denny said it was about highlighting the inextricable connection between how technologies mine resources from the land and mine data through our internet use.

“Coming to terms with a picture of the world that includes the effects of industry on the planet, people and other forms of life is urgent,” he said.

The Amazon worker cage with the King Island Brown Thornbill. Picture: FIONA HARDING

“I’m excited to present an exhibition in a cavernous space like Mona that tries to give form to the complex relationship between life, data, and resources and the hierarchies of work.”

The exhibition also enables Mona to introduce the use of augmented reality for the first time.

Visitors can point the iPod-style directory at cues throughout the exhibition to see part of the exhibition come to life through the device.

Mr Denny, whose previous work examined cryptocurrency, capitalism and surveillance, said he felt privileged to exhibit his work during Dark Mofo, a festival which last year attracted about 15,000 interstate tourists.

“It’s a real highlight. A lot of people come to Tasmania at this time, so to be able to be part of such an active moment of festivities in Hobart is a pleasure. It’s an honour,” he said.