Nothing’s sacred in Dark Mofo installation Island Shrine

A DARK Mofo installation is using modern methods to shine new light on a largely forgotten figure from Tasmania’s dark past, while 17,000 people sign a petition calling for the inverted red crossed to be pulled down.

A DARK Mofo installation is using modern methods to shine new light on an important but largely forgotten figure from Tasmania’s dark past.

Artists Keith Deverell and Fiona Hamilton spent more than two years researching and working on Island Shrine, in partnership with Aunty Netty Shaw and Uncle Rob Anders. Island Shrine uses video, sound, kangaroo skins, bull kelp, ochre, burnt spears, charcoal and maireener shells to explore the story of Tarenorerer, a Tasmanian Aboriginal warrior woman who led an indigenous fightback against white British colonists during Van Diemen’s Land’s genocidal Black War of the 1820s and ’30s.

WHAT’S ON? CHECK OUT TODAY’S GUIDE

GALLERY: DARK MOFO 2018

“As an Aboriginal person, I’m not just setting out to challenge non-Aboriginal Tasmania with this work — I’m also challenging my own people on a number of levels,” Hamilton said.

“[I’m] pushing the boundaries of safe and passive Tasmanian Aboriginal art, which is usually about making cultural items. We’ve found new ways to use very old traditions in this work.

“Dark Mofo has provided us with a unique opportunity to present a work like this. The worst thing that could happen is that we homogenise the ability of artists to talk about their experience — black, white or otherwise — in Tasmania, and to [stop telling] those stories with some guts and some honesty.”

Island Shrine will be open in the Maritime Museum of Tasmania’s Carnegie Gallery from 3-8pm daily until Sunday. Entry is free.

The Dark Mofo crosses light up a foggy night on the Hobart waterfront.

MORE THAN 17,000 CALL FOR CROSSES TO GO

JIM ALOUAT

A PETITION with more than 17,000 signatures calling for the immediate removal of the inverted crosses across Hobart has been tabled before Hobart City Council.

Four 20m-high crosses were erected across the Hobart waterfront, to mark the path between Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast at Princes Wharf No. 1 and the Dark Park art playground at Macquarie Point.

The inverted crosses have drawn the ire of Christian groups across Australia.

The petition was started on change.org.au on June 11 and has garnered more than 17,000 signatures.

The petition called on Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie to bring down the crosses.

“We are asking you to arrange to immediately remove the inverted crosses that were erected by Dark Mofo around Hobart for the Winter Festival,” it reads.

“Whatever their intention, the consequence of these crosses are harmful, hurtful, and frankly, a waste of public funds.

“The cross is a deeply meaningful and important symbol for all Christians in this nation, and indeed across the world.

“Other religions would not tolerate this type of demeaning behaviour and we request that you immediately have them removed as a sign of respect.”

The petitioner, Rebecca Jones, of Brisbane, said she had lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commissioner.

Alderman Christie said the petition would be sent to committee for officers to review.

“That’s protocol and normal,” he said.

“It’s a private event organised by Dark Mofo

“Our involvement with the structures was to make sure they had a building surveyor look at them and that they were structurally sound.

“But I can understand the concerns of our Christian society.”

MORE: DAVID WALSH IN HIS OWN WORDS

MORE: DARK DAYS LURE VISITORS

Mona owner David Walsh has previously defended the use of the inverted crosses.

“Firstly, St Peter was crucified upside down,” Walsh said.

“Why? Because he didn’t want to be like Jesus. So maybe all the churches that have up-the-right-way crosses are blasphemers.”

A counter petition, with more than 200 signatures, is calling for the inverted crosses to be made a permanent fixture in Hobart.