BY CAPT. VIC JULY 4, 2019

ARTSY HOBART’S MUSEUM “THE MONA”

OVERVIEW

“MUST SEE”

The MONA is billed as a museum of old and new art and is a “must see” if you find yourself in HOBART , Tasmania, as I did recently. The easiest way to get to Mona from Hobart is by catamaran ferry which is a pleasant 25 minute ride and gives you a chance to take in some of the great local scenery. Tickets for both the museum and the ferry can be purchased at the Brooke Street Pier where the catamaran’s sail from. The back of the building features one of the prominent restaurants in the area called the THE GLASS HOUSE .

The museum sits on part of the Moorilla winery and both are owned by an Australian gambler who made good and became an art collector and business man here. Ancient, modern, and contemporary art espouse the central theme of sex and death. The Mona is the largest private museum in Australia and has been described by David Walsh as a “subversive adult Disneyland.” When you arrive you have to climb a stairwell, enter the museum and then, descend three levels using a glass staircase to start your tour of the artwork. There is no written descriptions and instead you pick up a GPS enabled IPOD(CALLED THE “O”) at the front door which does it for you at each stop. The first section I entered featured a WORD WALL that spells a new word with water every second or so and just gave a hint of all the exhibits that awaited to overwhelm your senses.

THE SOURCE RESTAURANT

After two hours of touring the Mona’s three levels I was feeling a tad peckish and the SOURCE beckoned just steps from the Museum exit. I had read about it of course and the descriptions had enticed me to finish my trip with a nice light meal before catching the ferry back to Hobart. It was difficult to locate the front door (it is promoted as secluded) and I found it just past “GODS PARKING SPACE” as the sign explained. The restaurant has a clean, crisp, modernity about it. The service was great and the food delectable and all for a reasonable recompense. 

DEBRIEF

No trip to Hobart would be complete without a visit to what is now an iconic Museum that is unique to the world’s offering of similar venues. Caveat Emptor…this is definitely not Disneyland. Much of the content requires and adults sophisticated maturity to appreciate fully. Afterwords, give the Source Restaurant ago. Great place to relax and review the days experience.

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