Dark Mofo 2019: Red crosses flipped to conventional Christian direction

Dark Mofo has flipped its controversial red crosses for this year’s winter festival — but not everyone is happy with the change.

Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael in front of the first cross being erecte in Mawson Place on Hobart’s waterfront. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE controversial red crosses which lit up the Hobart waterfront during Dark Mofo last year are back and there is a noticeable difference — they are no longer inverted.

Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael yesterday told the Mercury the new-look crosses symbolised “sacrifice and torture”, but the Australian Christian Lobby said they believed they were still being used to promote demonic activities.

The first of the 20m art installations was erected at Mawson Place using a crane yesterday afternoon. Another will be installed near Mures and a third outside Macq 01 in the coming days, before they are all switched on.

It’s a completely inappropriate use of the cross and in fact mocks Christianity – acting Tasmanian director of the Australian Christian Lobby, Dan Flynn

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Mr Carmichael said organisers of the winter festival always intended on flipping the crosses Christian-side up this year, but could not confirm if they would stay that way.

“They are a pretty big investment for us and obviously they form part of our paint the town red program,” he said.

“Symbols can be pretty powerful, important and sometimes dangerous. It’s fascinating how people can read the same sign differently and sometimes go to war over it.

“Last year we had 20m-high symbols of humility, which didn’t seem to go down too well, so this year we thought we’d do symbols of human sacrifice and torture, which seems aptly Dark Mofo.”

Mr Carmichael said the inverted crosses stood to represent the humility of St Peter, who was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus Christ.

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One of the red crosses on the Hobart waterfront for last year’s Dark Mofo. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

But acting Tasmanian director of the Australian Christian Lobby Dan Flynn said there was a “clear disconnect” between Mr Carmichael’s statement and what Dark Mofo represented.

“Inverted crosses are also used as a highly offensive anti-Christian symbol,” Mr Flynn said. “Just because they’re now the right way up doesn’t mean they’re respectful.

“This year we are concerned a deeply Christian symbol is being co-opted to promote a festival with pagan practices and demonic activities.

“It’s a completely inappropriate use of the cross and in fact mocks Christianity. Nevertheless, our hope is that people will still be drawn to the true nature of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for them on the cross.”

Almost 22,000 people last year signed an online petition calling for the immediate removal of the inverted crosses, labelling them harmful, hurtful and a waste of money.