Known for being extremely rambunctious, flamboyant, unorthodox, and highly controversial, the Dark Mofo festival is returning to Hobart, Tasmania, after a 2-year break due to the pandemic and amidst much contention. To embark on a clean slate, the mega-carnival is set to take place from 8 – 22 June with the subtly apt theme – ‘Resurrection’.
Hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo is the winter version of the well-known MONA FOMA festival, also held annually in Tasmania. The festival commemorates the murk and gloom of the southern winter solstice and presents to its audience a variety of musical acts, extravagant light installations, and artists, being widely known for its winter feast. Inspired largely by the Tasmanian Gothic aesthetic, the festival shows off its pagan influence and noir themes, making it a must-visit for those who prefer unconventional festivities over typical candy-floss holidays, to make memories that last a lifetime. During the festival, the city of Hobart overflows with music, art, food, films, and all things artistic that explore the links between themes of birth and death, dark and light, ancient and modern.
With nearly half a million attendees congregating annually from around the globe, the festival has risen in popularity. Artists and musicians stretch imaginations and blow audiences away with their artistic expressions, both in the museums and on stage, as Hobart becomes a playing field for playful yet controversial, twisted fantasies of its residents and visitors. A variety of new exhibits and artists, as well as old favourites, keep the enthusiastic crowds coming back year after year. This year, the show will be headlined by Sydney-born global star The Kid LAROI, who shot to worldwide fame with his song ‘Stay’ ft. Justin Bieber. Other stand-out artists for the year include Jonsi, Boris, Moses Sumney, Perfume Genius, and other indie flavors.
To kickstart this two-week extravaganza, exhibitions by artists like Fiona Hall with AJ King, Robert Andrew, and Jeremy Shaw will be unveiled at MONA. The Kid LAROI would be the first ‘mainstream’ artist in this offbeat festival, a dedicated effort to rebrand the event. Dark Mofo’s Creative Director, Leigh Carmichael, commented on the theme and the re-branding of the festival, “As the cultural world re-emerges from the darkness of cancellations and lockdowns, we are all experiencing a rebirth, of sorts… The forced isolation gave rise to a re-evaluation of what matters, to new ideas and new dreams.”
Akin to the Dark Mofo, Australia is also striving to re-brand its tourism after the global pandemic. The country, which was mostly closed for inbound and outbound travel since March 2022, has reopened its borders and beckons visitors with open arms. While this is great news to Australians stranded away from home, the ease of travel restrictions also gives hope to the country’s tourism sector.
Although not as popular a travel destination as other Australian states, Tasmania, being an island state, is known for its beauty, lush greenery, national parks, and abundance of World Heritage Sites. Hobart, Australia’s second-oldest capital city after Sydney and the largest city in Tasmania, is well-known for its natural beauty, culinary delights, marketplaces, and goes without saying, its rich and out-of-the-box festivals. So whatever be your interests – trekking, fishing, mountain climbing, or even just admiring art – Hobart offers something for everyone.
Here are some ways to truly explore and make the most of your trip to Hobart, Tasmania.