Dark Mofo!

JUNE 12-22 2014 HOBART
DARK MOFO

DARK MOFO LINEUP ANNOUNCED
HOBART: JUNE 12 – 22, 2014

Shadows are falling across Tasmania, as the Museum of Old and New Art’s winter festival Dark Mofo returns in June 2014 to celebrate the dark through large-scale public art, food, music, film, light and noise.

Since Neolithic times, winter solstice rites have been held around the longest night and the shortest day, to face the shadows and celebrate the light. MONA bridges the old ways with new to create contemporary traditions around this significant seasonal shift.

MONA’s inaugural winter festival attracted more than 128,000 people to events across 10 days in Hobart last year. This year they’re building the fires higher, occupying historic and underutilised spaces around Hobart such as the Town Hall Underground, Prince of Wales Battery, Narryna Heritage Museum, the Old Mercury Building, and MONA’s new festival hub, The Odeon Theatre.

Dark Mofo 2014 will feature a large-scale public artwork by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer to light up the night sky (June 13-22); the City of Hobart Winter Feast (June 19-21) at the waterfront with fire, music, and community; the MONA till Midnight open museum event (June 17); the Future Hobart 2014: with Vito Acconci (June 17); the Dark Mofo Films program exposing the dark heart of Australian cinema (June 11-22); more after-hours debauchery at Dark Faux Mo (June 19 & 21), plus performances, installations, exhibitions, and much more, all building up to the longest night and winter solstice (8.51pm, June 21) with the annual Nude Solstice Swim (sunrise: 7.42am, June 22) to welcome back the light.

THE LINEUP

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Articulated Intersect
Diamanda Galás
SUNN O))) + Earth + Veil of Darkness
David Lynch presents Chrysta Bell
Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!
Yin Xiuzhen (尹秀珍): Washing River 2014
Future Hobart 2014: Vito Acconci
In Praise of Darkness with the TSO
Dark Mofo Films
It’s Dark Outside
Afterlife: Total Control + Kirin J Callinan + HTRK + MORE
The Bronx + High Tension
The Gin Club + Jeff Lang + Mick Thomas
Dean Stevenson and the Arco Set Orchestra: Tim Passes
Dark Faux Mo
The Red Death Ball at Hobart Town Hall
City of Hobart Winter Feast
Nude Solstice Swim
Nick Tsiavos
Ross Manning: Different Rhythms
Marco Fusinato: Spectral Arrows
Pat Brassington: À Rebours
Motel Dreaming
Grimoire at The Brisbane Hotel
A Night at the Museum (TMAG)
Mykki Blanco
Amelia Rowe Memoriam
Ningher Canoe
The Twilight Girls and Mark Shorter: 50 Ways to Kill Renny Kodgers
Huon Valley Midwinter Festival
MONA till Midnight
Michael Goldberg: An Inn for Phantoms
Ferris Wheel of Death
Snowtown: Live
TICKETS on sale 10am Monday April 14 from www.darkmofo.net.au

VIDEO Dark Mofo 2014 launch video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1reeaAiynw

Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael said: “We can’t wait for winter in Tasmania. This year Dark Mofo breaks new ground; working with the City of Hobart implementing the Creative Hobart Strategy, we will be activating spaces previously unused or underutilised, like the Town Hall Underground and Prince of Wales Battery, as well as establishing a new festival hub, in the historic Odeon Theatre.

“Festival highlights include three nights of the City of Hobart Winter Feast activating the waterfront at PW1, and the large-scale public artwork, Articulated Intersect by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, which we are thrilled to present for the first time in Australia with support from Hydro Tasmania during its centenary year.

“This is a festival of firsts; we are featuring an interactive public artwork on the waterfront, Washing River 2014 by Chinese artist Yin Xiuzhen, the Dark Mofo Films program features national and world premieres, and we are hosting the inaugural Future Hobart 2014 public space forum with Vito Acconci.

“Dark Mofo would not be possible without the funding and support of the State Government, the Lord Mayor Alderman Damon Thomas and the City of Hobart, Penny Clive and Detached, major sponsors Hydro Tasmania and the RACT. Mona very much appreciates the commitments made from the many cultural and arts organisations partnering with the festival.”

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said: “Dark Mofo has become an essential part of our cultural landscape, a winter experience without equal. It cuts through the darkness and cold to feed and challenge our senses.

“Winter in Hobart has previously been a time where we have experienced challenges in attracting tourists, but events like Dark Mofo are leading more tourists to discover the wonders of winter in Tasmania. Dark Mofo is not only bringing more people to the State, but also attracting Tasmanians back outdoors to experience Hobart like never before. The Tasmanian Government is delighted to once again partner with MONA to deliver this major winter event.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas said: “Following the outstanding success of the inaugural Dark Mofo in 2013, the City of Hobart is proud to continue its support of this high quality winter festival of national appeal and growing international stature.

“We recognise the substantial economic benefit to our city as well as the important cultural and social outcomes it provides as part of an dynamic year-long program of quality Tasmanian events, particularly reinforcing our Creative Hobart cultural strategy. Events such as this fortify Hobart’s increasing reputation as a ‘must visit’ destination.”

Events Tasmania Director Adam Sproule said: “Dark Mofo 2014 offers no less than we have all come to expect from the team who keep giving us reasons to explore a wide array of creative ventures. This event not only lifts the winter spirits of Tasmanians, it lures other like-minded people to our shores. They’ve heard about Tasmania and know they want to visit – special events and festivals such as Dark Mofo give them a reason to make the trip over.”

Dark Mofo is a project of MONA supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, and Hobart City Council, Tourism Tasmania, Hydro, RACT, Audi, Australia Council for the Arts, and more.

SOCIAL MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
Twitter:
Colder and darker: @monamuseum’s @dark_mofo lineup announced: www.darkmofo.net.au

Facebook:
[Pic and hotlink to www.facebook.com/darkmofofestival] Colder and darker: Dark Mofo 2014 lineup announced: www.darkmofo.net.au

Instagram: @dark_mofo

Tickets on sale
Monday April 14, 10am
Rebecca Fitzgibbon, Events Media Manager | Museum of Old and New Art