Artwork: Daniel Crooks, Phantom Ride, 2016, (still); Courtesy the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery
This June, the Hobart Convict Penitentiary will be seen with fresh eyes as the venue will
present an exhibition experience for the first time as part of the annual Dark Mofo festival.
The exhibition ‘The Return’ responds to the festival theme of ‘Time’ and ‘Incarceration’,
suggesting that time travel is not only possible, but that it occurs in our day-to-day lives.
‘The Return’ will invite audience members into the role of observer and the observed, as
visitors are led through the Hobart Convict Penitentiary during the dark winter evenings to
experience video installation, sound, light and ice works by both local and interstate artists.
As the dark heart of the convict system in Tasmania, the Hobart Convict Penitentiary on the
corner of Brisbane and Campbell streets is a “thrilling” choice for a Dark Mofo venue says
independent curator Stevie S. Han, who is excited to unveil her second consecutive show
part of Dark Mofo Festival: ‘Dark Mofo is an amazing platform for local artists to be exposed
to international audiences. It is also an opportunity to bring outside contemporary artists
into our midst, and show them how vibrant our city is’.
Managing Director of the National Trust Tasmania, Matthew Smithies, says that he is eager
to see the space utilised creatively, stating: “We are always looking for ways to get new
audiences interested in our unique heritage, and for ways to reimagine our dark convict past
and connect it to where Tasmania is now headed as a tourist destination, and the Dark
Mofo festival is the perfect example of that, and a perfect fit for the trust”.
‘The Return’ features both local and interstate artists: Lucy Bleach (TAS), Daniel Crooks
(VIC), Brad Darkson (SA), Jon Smeathers (TAS), Byron Perry (VIC) & Aron Hemingway (TAS),
and Yandell Walton (VIC).
‘The Return’ has an opening event from 5pm on Thursday 14 and will run till Saturday 23
June, 5-10pm and is free of charge.
Managing Director of the National Trust Tasmania, Matthew Smithies
