Visual Art News

Exploring MONA

Visual Arts students in the Year 9/10 Elective classes attended MONA this week, with the Yr 10 students connecting with artworks related to their own independent projects whilst the Yr 9 students focussed their attention on sculptures and installations as they are completing their own 3D projects in art. The theme for their sculptures is taken from the Hobart Current biennial exhibition theme, which is the concept of ‘Here’. MONA is the perfect location to explore concepts around ‘Here’, connecting with spaces, local history and geography, confronting global issues such as climate change, politics, the temporality of existence and what it actually means to be ‘Here’. 

The artworks at MONA are ever changing and never cease to inspire amazement and awe. Of particular interest was the Mirrorscape installation by Theo Mercier. 

This year a number of students are exploring the theme of climate change and natural disasters so this sand sculpture using 80 tonnes of sand to replicate a tip face or the aftermath of some natural disaster provoked much discussion and awe.

We were also lucky to catch the ‘Namedropping’ exhibition in its final days. The concept of fame being explored and the accessibility of some of the world’s most famous artworks made this exhibition very relevant to the concept of ‘Here’ the students are exploring.

Some interesting discussions were had along the way about what is art actually? Bethany Paton-Lyon commented upon seeing the textile works of Australian fashion label ‘Romance was Born’ that essentially ‘anything can be called art’. This drew us back to the ultimate example of this being true in the Marcel Duchamp sculpture ‘Bicycle wheel’ created in 1913 that was on display nearby. 

Although possibly a better example of ‘art can be anything’ was evident in the ‘Big Mac Brooch’ by Emma Bugg, where she has immortalised a Big Mac burger purchased back in 2015 and turned it into a wearable piece of art. What is most impressive and slightly disturbing about this is that the burger is still ‘Here’, showing no signs of deteriorating with no preservation other than its own preservatives! We reflected on the fact that maybe if we eat enough of them we could one day do without mummification, sarcophaguses or cryogenic freezing for our bodies to be preserved and remain ‘Here’ forever.