Dark Mofo 2022: Leigh Carmichael on rebirth and future of Hobart’s wildly popular winter festival, and those crosses
Dark Mofo has backflipped on its crosses again ... well sort of. Creative director Leigh Carmichael explains ... well sort of. >>>
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After upsetting some Christians by inverting crosses in 2018 and tipping them on their sides last year, the Dark Mofo festival this year is having a bob each way.
The distinctive 5m wide red-illuminated crosses, which stand 20.9m from the ground, have this year been installed both right-way up and upside down.
“Dark Mofo has been exploring ancient mythology and religious themes since its inception in 2013,” Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael said.
“The cross is a powerful and deeply significant historical symbol, one that has been used for thousands of years, with many cross-cultural meanings.”
This year’s festival has been given the theme resurrection – after a troubled pandemic-hit two years which forced its cancellation 2020 and an abbreviated one-week event last year.
At one stage there were fears the pandemic would kill off the festival altogether.
Mr Carmichael said the crosses were neither anti-Christian or pro-Christian.
“For many people this symbol evokes an emotional response for reasons that we don’t fully understand,” he said. “While we respect and endeavour to understand different interpretations, the different viewpoints on our projects are something that we value as part of the festival experience.”
In 2018, the Australian Christian Lobby described inverted crosses as “highly offensive” and raised an online petition which was signed by 19,000 people demanding they be removed.
The campaign was backed by then Lord Mayor Ron Christie who said funding for the festival should be reconsidered since it was no longer family-friendly.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday night at 7pm when the Reclamation Walk invites Hobartians and visitors to gather at the Regatta Grounds for a march to Franklin Square.
The walk celebrates Indigenous heritage and this year will involve Aboriginal elders sharing their knowledge and stories of fire, water and treaty. The march will include stories and art installations – including a soundscape featuring Aboriginal words and sounds ringing out across the CBD.
The walk will be followed by an “afterparty” at the Odeon Theatre headlined by Indigenous hip-hop act Biggs.
‘New era’: Dark Mofo boss opens up on festival’s rebirth, future
Three years ago, Dark Mofo was riding a tidal wave of momentum, as its legend continued to grow and tickets flew out the door in turn.
Then the Covid pandemic saw it all come crashing down.
The hugely popular festival was called off in 2020, as cases of the virus skyrocketed across the country and state borders were slammed shut.
But Dark Mofo returned in 2021, albeit in an abbreviated one-week format and with its key interstate tourist market of Melbourne remaining locked out.
Now, two years after the pandemic threatened to put a permanent stop to the festival’s bacchanalian delights, it appears that Dark Mofo has defied death.
Speaking to the Sunday Tasmanian on the eve of the 2022 iteration of the festival, DarkLab creative director Leigh Carmichael said the event had now entered a “new era”.
“Up until 2019, things were selling really well,” he said. “And this year has been the same.”
“So it’s great. We’re really lucky. We can kind of relax, knowing that people are coming.”
Mr Carmichael said he and the other organisers of Dark Mofo had taken a “risk” by running the festival at “three-quarters of our normal size” this year – but it seemed to have paid off.
“We went big,” he said.
“We took the risk and now we’ve sold close to 40,000 tickets.”
Dark Mofo raked in between $3.6-3.7m at the box office in 2019 and Mr Carmichael said the festival had come close to matching that this year, having earned about $3.2m so far.
“I would say it’s very comparable to 2019, which was a massive three-week year,” he said.
“The festival just seems to go from strength to strength. So it’s hard to know how much of the demand this year is about Covid and people being excited to be out and about or whether it’s just a continuation from 2019.”
The theme of the festival this year, fittingly, is resurrection.
“It’s in response to the winter solstice but it’s also in response to the fact that we’ve been in hibernation, cooped up for a couple of years,” Mr Carmichael said.
“So it’s not only tying into the annual cycle but also just this thing that we’re all going through as a community, coming back out, being together, being alive again. Just enjoying music and food together in an uninhibited way that we haven’t done for quite a while.”
The 2022 line-up is peppered with big names, including founding Sonic Youth member, Kim Gordon, US black metal group Deafheaven, art pop crooner Moses Sumney, and Australian pop superstar The Kid LAROI.
Meanwhile, festival staples such as the Winter Feast at PW1, the Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach, and Night Mass at In the Hanging Garden are again set to engulf the senses.
Of those who have bought tickets to Dark Mofo, 65 per cent are from the mainland, which Mr Carmichael said was “comparable” to pre-Covid attendance.
“It’ll probably take a couple of years now to settle to see where we’re really at – whether this is pent-up energy and whether that dissipates next year or whether it just continues on as it was,” he said.
As he sought to bring Dark Mofo back from the dead in 2021, Mr Carmichael found himself at the centre of a storm of controversy, when Spanish artist Santiago Sierra’s Union Flag work was announced for the festival.
The project involved soaking a British flag in blood donated by indigenous Australians. While some local Aboriginal groups voiced their support for the artwork, others across the country expressed outrage at what they described as a culturally insensitive piece.
Following the backlash, DarkLab scrapped the project and Mr Carmichael apologised “for any hurt that has been caused”.
Today, he describes the experience of organising the 2021 event as “humbling” and “a bit traumatic”.
“Coming out of Covid and then being hit by (the Union Flag) controversy was actually pretty hard,” Mr Carmichael said. “But we play with fire and sometimes you get burnt.”
“And I think that happened and we’ve tried to make amends the best we can.”
Currently in the second year of a three-year $7.5m funding deal with the state government, Dark Mofo’s future feels “very secure”, according to the DarkLab boss.
But he said that with the 10th anniversary of the festival approaching in 2023, the time was nearing to “take stock” and assess what might lay ahead.
“We do need to think about the next 10 years and what that will look like and the scale of the festival,” Mr Carmichael said. “It can’t keep getting bigger. We’re kind of, to be honest, already at our limits in terms of hotel rooms and venues, which were difficult to find this year.
“So I think there are some challenges ahead.
“I think the winter solstice celebration is definitely here to stay. And I think the Winter Feast will be here to stay, whether we’re running it or someone else.”
Mr Carmichael said the experience of heading up Dark Mofo had been a “wild ride” so far and one he had “thoroughly enjoyed”.
“It’s exhausting, as well,” he added. “The expectations of the festival now I feel much more than I think we did in the early years when there was kind of nothing to lose.
“I feel privileged, really.”
DARK MOFO WEEK ONE HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Reclamation Walk
Join Aboriginal Elders and knowledge holders for a ceremonial journey across the ancient cultural landscapes of nipaluna. Walk with us.
From the Regatta Grounds to Franklin Square, 7pm Wednesday, June 8.
2. Briggs + Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Prolific writer and storyteller Briggs shares his signature brand of sardonic hip-hop, joined by acclaimed indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan and her soul band The Putbacks.
Odeon Theatre, 9pm Wednesday June 8.
3. Baxter Dury
British musical raconteur Baxter Dury brings his indie croon-come-disco swagger to Hobart as part of his first ever Australian tour.
Odeon Theatre, 8pm Friday June 10.
4. The Kid LAROI
Grammy-nominated Kamilaroi artist The Kid LAROI brings his chart-topping blend of pop and rap to Hobart for the very first time.
Mystate Bank Arena, 8pm Saturday June 1.
5. Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe presents Candyman
American artist Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe performs his original score for Nia DaCosta and Jordan Peele’s adaptation of horror classic ‘Candyman’, with guest collaborator Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Odeon Theatre, 3pm Saturday June 11.
6. Night Garden
A massive three-night dance party featuring performances by Sammythesinner, Cyber Switch, Andy Garvey, Holly.etc, DJ pgz and L$F.
Cathedral/Altar, June 10-12.
7. Birdz + DENNI
Butchulla artist Birdz brings his versatile rhymes and hard-hitting hip-hop to town, teaming up with pakana artist DENNI for an explosive live show.
Altar, 8pm Saturday June 11.
8. Mona Up Late
A big night of art, music and fire at Mona, including after-dark access to three new art exhibitions.
Mona, 6pm Saturday June 11.
9. Bill Viola: Inverted Birth and Five Angels for the Millennium
Dark Mofo presents two large-scale video installations by influential American artist Bill Viola.
2-6 Collins St, opens June 9.
10. Hiromi Tango: Rainbow Dream: Moon Rainbow
Inspired by neuroscience, Australia-based artist Hiromi Tango creates an interactive space where visitors can experience the uplifting experience of being surrounded by colour.
Melville St Car Park, opens June 9.
Red haze descends as city gears up for Dark Mofo
Hobart businesses have embraced the festival atmosphere currently sweeping the city, with more than 200 storefronts now decked out in all things red amid the countdown to Dark Mofo.
Miss Haidee Millinery, located on Salamanca Place, is one such business, bedazzling passers-by with an eye-catching window display.
A row of red candles is laid out before a regal-looking mannequin draped in scarlet fairy lights and wearing a flamboyant showgirl headpiece crafted from enormous feathers.
Owner Haidee Neill said she had also designed a range of red scarfs, beanies, arm-warmers and leg-warmers to tie in with Dark Mofo and the beginning of winter.
“The whole of our street has all gone red – it’s like it’s contagious (for) all the shops along our Salamanca strip,” she said.
“And they’re putting a lot of effort, a lot of creativity into it. Not just a red balloon or red cellophane. They’re putting their take on what they sell.
“I love the whole community and the whole town going red and how everyone commits to it. I’ve been telling all the tourists to come back in June because it’s just so much fun.
“We’ve got the best windows in the city so we’re just really making use of them.”
Miss Haidee is among about 250 Tasmanian businesses to have registered for Destination Southern Tasmania’s (DST) Paint the Town Red initiative this year.
Registration closed on May 18.
DST chief executive Alex Heroys said participating businesses received a mention on Dark Mofo’s website and went in the running to win season passes for the Winter Feast.
“It’s a sort of unashamed way of activating the city during the festival period so that we can get the local community out and about and involved,” Mr Heroys said.
“So it becomes, in a way, a little bit of an attraction in its own (right).”
Mr Heroys said the number of businesses participating in Paint the Town Red had increased steadily over the years, with its reach gradually expanding beyond Hobart and into the regions.
“We’ve got about 15 businesses in Swansea lit up red this year, which is great,” he said.
“We are happy for anywhere in the state to light up.”
Dark Mofo begins on Wednesday, June 8 and runs until Wednesday, June 22.
Key Dark Mofo event will have a Roman twist - May 27
CALLING all Venuses and Apollos – Dark Mofo’s annual Winter Feast is coming soon and it will be fit for a Roman deity.
The architects behind Hobart’s hedonistic, yearly pagan banquet have just announced this year’s program, and it has a special twist inspired by ancient Rome.
The Winter Feast’s new food curator, Amanda Vallis, explained the theme of this year’s feast was the ancient Roman winter solstice festival of Saturnalia, with the “hero dish” of pork meat alongside honey-based sweets, nuts and dried fruit.
“Saturnalia ushered the return of the light, with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman forum followed by a decadent banquet,” Ms Vallis said.
She said she felt inspired to bring the Roman festival to Tasmania after spending two years in Italy.
“Here in Tasmania, the division of seasons is a huge part of our way of life,” Ms Vallis said.
“Coming together and gathering around food during the winter-time to celebrate the welcoming-in of the longer days is a really important part of who we are.”
She said while the Winter Feast had always drawn on pagan traditions, in 2022, “we are going to be leaning into that a bit more”.
“Food in ancient Rome was not exactly what we consider to be Italian food today,” Ms Vallis said.
“For example, there was no pasta in ancient Rome. In terms of dessert, the key thing they ate was deep-fried dough, which we all love, topped with honey, dried food, spices and cinnamon.”
She also explained that in ancient times, social norms were turned upside down during Saturnalia, with masters providing table service to their slaves, and slaves free to disrespect their masters without threat of punishment.
Beekeeper and educator Jenni McLeod, owner of the Bee Collective, will hold workshops at the feast, explaining the importance of bees, how honey is made and helping patrons make their own beeswax candle.
“One of the things I love about Dark Mofo is that it encourages us, and inspires us, to touch into our own creativity and our authentic selves,” she said.
At this year’s event, which will feature more than 80 stallholders, the outdoor area of Princes Wharf 1 will be transformed into a Saturnalia-like feast with antipasto, Roman sweets and the creations of “Italian mamma” Giuliana White.
A key pork dish will be handcrafted by guest Italian chef Giovannia Pilu in collaboration with female-owned butcher Meat Mistress.
The feast will also feature the traditional Aboriginal food of mutton bird grilled over fire by palawa woman Kitana Mansell with guest chef Jo Barrett.
The event will run June 15 to 19, from 4pm to 11pm.
Tickets will be available nightly on the doors and range from $10 to $20, with free entry after 9pm every evening and at the Sunday event.
KEY DARK MOFO EVENTS
THE FESTIVAL: Will run June 8 to 22 with a theme of “resurrection”.
WEEK ONE: Will open with the festival’s opening night Reclamation Walk and after-event The Gathering, joining Aboriginal Elders and knowledge-holders in reclaiming nipaluna.
Grammy-nominated Kamilaroi artist The Kid LAROI will be a highlight this week, as will Boris, a cult favourite from Japan.
Mona will also present three new major exhibitions by artists Jeremy Shaw, Fiona Hall with AJ King, and Robert Andrew, and will hold “Mona Up Late” at the museum, featuring music, fire and fun.
Works by video and new media artist Bill Viola, and sculpturist and multichannel video artist Doug Aitken will also be presented.
WEEK TWO: Legendary founding member of Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon, will perform. This week will also see performances from the likes of Spiritualized, German electronic artist Nils Frahm, and Chelsea Wolfe and Emma Ruth Rundle.
Nightclub extravaganza, Night Mass: Transcendence,will be held In The Hanging Garden.
THE BLUE ROSE BALL: Was sadly cancelled after organisers struggled to find a suitable venue.
LAST WEEK: Dark Mofo announced a slew of new events would be added to the program, including a special performance – With Ukraine – plus a “Neo-Kawaii” Japanese quartet, a “double-level queer” dance party, and a three-night dance party entitled Night Garden.
THE WINTER FEAST: Will return from June 15 to 19, with an ancient Roman theme of “Saturnalia”.
THE NUDE SOLSTICE SWIM: Will take place at Sandy Bay’s Long Beach on June 22.
THE BURNING: This year, a masked owl ogoh-ogoh will be torched at the Regatta Grounds on June 19 after a procession from Parliament Lawns.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to darkmofo.net.au
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