‘Morally bankrupt’: Reactions spill in to Mona’s jump from Dark Mofo to Blak Mofo
Some are dubbing Mona’s plans to replace next year’s Dark Mofo festival with Indigenous-run Blak Mofo an “amazing” act of accountability, while others label the decision “politically weak”. READ THE REACTIONS >>
Tasmania
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UPDATE 4.15PM:
TASMANIANS have been urged to back Dark Mofo this year amid calls to boycott the festival.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said he hoped people would support the winter solstice festival, which has generated millions of dollars in revenue since it began in 2013 as a “constantly disruptive” arts event.
“That’s the essence of the event that has appealed to so many locals and visitors since it first began,” he said.
“Right now, what we most need is for this year’s event to be a great success and for everyone in Tassie to get behind it.
“I personally can’t wait to see Hobart bathed in red again, and I think it will be a symbol of our recovery from COVID.
“Beyond that, I hope everyone just gives [Dark Mofo creative director] Leigh [Carmichael] and his team some time and space to work with our Aboriginal leaders and community on what next year’s event might be.”
Mr Martin’s comments come amid plans to ditch Dark Mofo in 2022 in favour of Blak Mofo – a festival fully organised by Indigenous staff.
One petition from young Tasmanian Aboriginals, titled Blak List Mona, called on the festival to create meaningful change within Mona and Dark Mofo, including undertaking cultural awareness training and developing a reconciliation action plan.
Another Instagram account named Dark No Go has urged people to boycott Dark Mofo over the proposed Union Flag artwork.
The @dark nogo account administrator told the Mercury: “Mona needs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not need Mona.”
A government spokesman said changing the name of the festival would not affect government funding arrangements.
“The Tasmanian government has been a proud supporter of Dark Mofo since its inception in 2013, and the funding arrangement won’t be impacted by the name of the festival,” he said.
Dark Mofo’s program is scheduled for release in April.
EARLIER 1.20PM:
SOME are dubbing Mona’s plans to replace next year’s Dark Mofo festival with Indigenous-run Blak Mofo an “amazing” act of accountability, while Michael Mansell has labelled the decision “politically weak”.
The introduction of Blak Mofo has come after outrage over Spanish artist Santiago Sierra’s controversial project Union Flag prompted Dark Mofo to cancel the major artwork.
If Blak Mofo is successful, two festivals Dark Mofo and Blak Mofo would both operate in future years.
But Tasmanian Aboriginal activist Michael Mansell has dubbed Mona’s response “second-rate” following the “disastrous censorship of art with a message”.
He supported running both festivals together but felt Blak Mofo should not exist as a substitute for Dark Mofo’s “out on the edge art they have historically displayed”.
“It should not be either or, it should be both,” he said.
“That’s why it’s a morally bankrupt and politically weak response to a bit of criticism about the Spanish artist’s work that should still be displayed today.”
He added the move was shifting blame away from Dark Mofo and onto the Aboriginal people for their decision to bin the provocative artwork which would have seen the British flag soaked in voluntarily donated blood from First Nations peoples.
“They’ve copped a bit of flack from the art world for the cancellation, now they’re shifting attention to us,” he said.
“If the Aboriginal festival doesn’t attract the same sort of attention next year they will further say ‘the Aborigines couldn’t do it as well’. They’re setting us up to fail.”
Social media users have delivered a complex debate, commenting on Facebook and on the comment section of the Mercury article detailing plans for Blak Mofo.
“Sounds amazing!” Facebook commenter Annabel Myler wrote.
“My children don’t have a lot of experience with Indigenous culture outside of the classroom.
“I hope the beauty and stories and traditions (and Tucker!) of this culture are showcased more than colonisation, but art is expression. Absolutely bring it on!”
Mercury subscriber Susan said the move showed Mona “craves approval from the conventional, virtue-signalling middle class” and was “predictable and boring.”
Another Facebook commenter said the decision was “pandering to the minority”.
Social media user Erin Brandall said “this is what accountability looks like – amplifying the voices of the First Nations people is going to be amazing,” while commenter Heather Geard said she would attend “no matter what they call it”.
One petition organised by young Tasmanian Aboriginals titled Blak List Mona called on the festival to go beyond an apology and create meaningful change within Mona and Dark Mofo including undertaking cultural awareness training and developing a reconciliation action plan.
Another Instagram account named Dark No Go has urged people to Boycott Dark Mofo over the Union Flag artwork.
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