





























See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Dark Mofo - Dark Mofo began in 2013 and was created to be the winter version of the annual summer MONA FOMA (Museum of Old and New Art: Festival Of Music and Art).
© iStock
2 / 30 Fotos
Winter solstice - Dark Mofo delves into the centuries-old rituals and mythologies of the winter solstice that signifies the reversal of the sun’s presence in the sky.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Dark Mofo - Creative Director Leigh Carmichael spoke of the celebrations in the Dark Mofo program explaining how they bring together the old and the new through art, music, and culture.
© iStock
4 / 30 Fotos
Links - Carmichael said, "We will celebrate links between ancient and contemporary mythology, humans and nature, religious and secular traditions, darkness and light, birth and death, fire, destruction and renewal."
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Light from darkness
- He continued, "Most include deities of life-death-rebirth (representing both loss and hope) and metaphors for the return of light from darkness."
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
6 / 30 Fotos
Performances - Dark Mofo includes light displays, art performances, and music throughout each festival.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Dark Park - Hobart and surrounding areas host the festivities, including MONA, Odeon Theatre, Federation Concert Hall, and a public art playground called Dark Park.
© iStock
8 / 30 Fotos
Winter Feast
- The annual City of Hobart's Dark Mofo Winter Feast is held on the waterside docks.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
9 / 30 Fotos
Welcome
- The feast hall welcomes over 40,000 people throughout the festival according to ABC.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
10 / 30 Fotos
Nude Solstice - The annual Nude Solstice Swim involves hundreds of people plunging into the River Derwent at sunrise welcoming back the return of the light after the longest night.
© iStock
11 / 30 Fotos
Ogoh-ogoh
- There is also the annual ogoh-ogoh parade and burning on solstice night.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
12 / 30 Fotos
Mass purification
- According to Tasmanian Art Guide, "In Balinese Hinduism, ogoh-ogoh (demon-like sculptures) are crafted, carried, and cremated as a form of mass purification."
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
13 / 30 Fotos
The purging
- Throughout the festival visitors are asked to write their deepest, darkest fears and secrets on the ogoh-ogohs.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
14 / 30 Fotos
The burning
- Then at the end of the festival, the ogoh-ogoh parade is held, through Dark Park where they go up in ceremonial smoke and flames.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
15 / 30 Fotos
Controversial
- Dark Mofo's art confronts, challenges and offends people year in, year out. Here are some examples of the most controversial pieces and performances from this annual winter solstice festival.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
16 / 30 Fotos
Mike Parr - The latest controversy is Mike Parr's performance. He buried himself alive underneath Macquarie Street for 72 hours for the festival.
© iStock
17 / 30 Fotos
Extreme - Although this is not as extreme as some of the 73-year-old's past art performances including sewing his lips shut and sticking thumb tacks into his legs, according to ABC.
© iStock
18 / 30 Fotos
Inverted crosses - This year there was also a petition against the display of inverted crosses around Hobart's waterfront. The Australian Christian Lobby have said they find it "highly offensive", according to ABC.
© iStock
19 / 30 Fotos
David Walsh
- But MONA owner David Walsh said, "we are at the other side of the earth from Jerusalem, if you map them we are actually the same way up."
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
20 / 30 Fotos
Hermann Nitsch - Last year, artist Hermann Nitsch had a huge backlash for his performance '150 Action' - a three-hour performance involving a slaughtered bull.
© iStock
21 / 30 Fotos
Experienced - According to ABC, he said, "It will be intense ... I am sure it will be confronting, but I think it is something that will need to be experienced".
© iStock
22 / 30 Fotos
Patricia Piccinini - Sculptor Patricia Piccinini created a hot air balloon that has an immense amount of shock value.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
'Skywhale' - 'Skywhale' had 16 hanging breasts and was a part of the 2016 Dark Mofo edition.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
'Fire Organ'
- The 'Fire Organ' played by Dutch artist Bastiaan Maris created a visceral soundscape that was felt as well as heard and seen according to ABC.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
25 / 30 Fotos
Seizures
- During the 2013 Dark Mofo light installation 'Zee' led to seven people having seizures, even though they were thoroughly warned and signed paperwork to enter.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
26 / 30 Fotos
Interactive
- Dark Mofo also has fun, interactive art installations and performances that still explore new territory, with a less offensive facade.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
27 / 30 Fotos
'Infinite Corpse'
- Interactive art installation 'Infinite Corpse' gathered groups of three into different tents and create a head, torso and bottom-half of a monster, and then reveal the outcome.
(Photo: Flickr/CC by 2.0)
© Flickr/Creative Commons
28 / 30 Fotos
Poking the bear: Dark Mofo's most controversial art
Hobart's winter solstice aims to confront
© Shutterstock
Hobart's Dark Mofo is the winter solstice festival that showcases some of the most controversial art in Australia.
Check out some of the offensive, confronting, and fascinating art performances and events of Dark Mofo's past.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU




































MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
TRAVEL Astrology
-
3
LIFESTYLE North atlantic treaty organization
-
4
CELEBRITY Celebrity deaths
-
5
MOVIES Cinema
-
6
CELEBRITY Ukraine conflict
-
7
LIFESTYLE Politicians
-
8
LIFESTYLE Photography
-
9
CELEBRITY Heritage
-
10
LIFESTYLE Politicians
COMMENTS