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David Walsh announces possible Mona reopening date

Mona’s enigmatic founder David Walsh has revealed new details about what’s been going on behind the scenes at the gallery while its doors have been closed, and when it could reopen.

Ogoh Ogoh burning ceremony to end Dark Mofo 2019

THE iconic Museum of Old and New Art has revealed new details about what has been going on behind the scenes while its famous doors have been closed and when it could reopen.

A statement from founder David Walsh indicated that Mona had “paused” its plans to reopen, as it undergoes refurbishment for its 10th anniversary.

The cryptic statement, issued earlier today, says that as Mona is approaching its 10th anniversary, there is a big mess inside the gallery, and reopening “won’t be before October”.

Mona opened ten years ago. That matters, because I have ten fingers and you, very likely, have ten fingers, so we count in tens,”Mr Walsh said.

Our tenth anniversary – that’s a big thing to us decimal creatures, and it’s been made a bigger thing due to COVID-19.

Mona founder David Walsh has issued a cryptic statement about the gallery’s reopening. Picture: Supplied.
Mona founder David Walsh has issued a cryptic statement about the gallery’s reopening. Picture: Supplied.

We’ve been forced to pause – we are thinking about the last ten years and the next ten years. The world won’t be the same, so Mona shouldn’t be the same.

How it changes depends on how the world changes. Ten years ago, we were all dressed up, with no place to go. Now we are naked, wondering what to wear, so it’s a little embarrassing that everybody is watching.

But for Mona, any future fits. We’ve made such a mess inside the museum it won’t be before October, but we’ll be back with bells (and lights) on.”

Mona closed in mid-March, shortly after the announcement of Dark Mofo’s cancellation.

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/david-walsh-announces-possible-mona-reopening-date/news-story/c922d854ffc79b6b14b0af66b673cd3a