Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)

Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a private art museum located in Berriedale, Tasmania, Australia, founded by collector David Walsh. Positioned as a provocative destination, it juxtaposes antiquities and contemporary works to challenge visitors through immersive installations, curated displays, and site-specific commissions. The institution has influenced cultural tourism in Tasmania, engaged international artists, and provoked debate in Australian and global art circles such as Venice Biennale and Documenta.

History

MONA opened in 2011 following the installation of founder David Walsh's private collection within a purpose-built subterranean complex on the banks of the River Derwent. The project drew on funding and support from local stakeholders including the Tasmanian Government, regional councils, and private benefactors, and it marked a shift in cultural investment similar to projects like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the redevelopment of South Bank, Brisbane. Early acquisitions included works by international figures such as Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Hermann Nitsch, Chris Ofili, Grayson Perry, and Anish Kapoor, and collaborations with curators linked to institutions like the National Gallery of Australia and the Tate Modern. MONA's founding occurred amid wider Australian debates exemplified by controversies involving artists such as Bill Henson and institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Architecture and facilities

The building, designed by local firm Nonda Katsalidis's practice influences and executed in collaboration with Tasmanian architects, is partly subterranean and carved into a sandstone cliff, drawing comparisons with projects by Frank Gehry and structural engineering approaches used at the Sainte-Chapelle restorations. The complex includes multiple galleries, a subterranean auditorium, conservation laboratories, research spaces associated with universities such as the University of Tasmania, hospitality venues including the restaurant More Restaurant, wine storage referencing collections like those at Château Margaux, and event spaces for performances akin to those staged at Sydney Opera House. The site is accessible by road, ferry services linking to Hobart's waterfront, and features visitor amenities meeting standards used by museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

Collections and exhibitions

MONA's holdings span antiquities, contemporary art, and assemblages incorporating works by artists and makers including Joseph Beuys, Louise Bourgeois, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Jeff Koons, Yoko Ono, Alberto Giacometti, Jenny Holzer, Andres Serrano, Cindy Sherman, Bruce Nauman, Jenny Saville, Takashi Murakami, Richard Serra, Ellsworth Kelly, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Olafur Eliasson, Marina Abramović, Ai Weiwei, Gerhard Richter, Edvard Munch, Gustave Courbet, Édouard Manet, Rembrandt van Rijn, Titian, Caravaggio, Hieronymus Bosch, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kara Walker, Pierre Bonnard, Francis Bacon, Max Ernst, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Brâncuși, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Yves Klein, Joseph Cornell, Louise Nevelson, Keenan Cotterell, Kurt Schwitters, Hans Holbein the Younger, Giovanni Bellini, Nicolas Poussin, Jacques-Louis David, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, John Constable, J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Giorgio de Chirico, Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, Kazimir Malevich, Umberto Boccioni, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Artemisia Gentileschi, Barbara Hepworth, Anselm Kiefer, Georges Braque, André Derain, Henri Rousseau, Rene Magritte, Joan Miró, Pietro Perugino, Masaccio, Sandro Botticelli, Alberto Burri, Louise Lawler, Shirin Neshat among antiquity objects and contemporary commissions. Exhibitions have included thematic cycles addressing mortality, desire, and materiality, often staged alongside performance programs featuring artists connected to festivals such as MONA FOMA and international platforms like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Programs and events

MONA runs an active program of festivals, music, performance, and research projects. Signature events include MONA FOMA (Festival of Music and Art) and MOFO (short-season programs), which have hosted performers and ensembles associated with venues like the Melbourne Festival, ensembles such as the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, experimental artists tied to Unsound Festival, and DJs linked with labels like Different Recordings. The site commissions new works from artists represented by galleries including White Cube, Gagosian Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Pace Gallery, and curators with ties to biennials such as the São Paulo Art Biennial. Education initiatives collaborate with tertiary providers including the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the Australian National University, and local schools, while publication programs echo formats used by publishers like Thames & Hudson.

Visitor information

MONA is located near Hobart and reachable via private vehicle, ferry services from docks like Constitution Dock, and organized tours linked to regional operators such as SeaLink. Facilities include on-site dining at More Restaurant, a bookstore and giftshop carrying titles from Phaidon Press, accommodation partnerships with nearby hotels like MACq 01 Hotel, access provisions in line with standards at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, and ticketing that offers combinations with events including MONA FOMA. Visitors are encouraged to plan for seasonal weather patterns characteristic of Tasmania and to check timed-entry requirements, transport schedules, and program listings coordinated by MONA's box office and digital platforms.

Category:Museums in Tasmania Category:Art museums and galleries in Australia