Inside MONA

Hobart in Tasmania features a quite unique privately owned museum and gallery called MONA, the "Museum of Old and New Art". Housed in a remarkable purpose-built building, you will find mainly avant-garde art (in some surprising forms) alongside Greek antiquities and Egyptian sarcophagi.

The building is built alongside the Derwent estuary, nestled into a hillside cutting in natural sandstone (seen here) which becomes a feature wall. Entry is from the top, via a lift to begin the visit at the lower level. There are no signs or explanatory notes, instead visitors are given electronic devices which are activated by proximity sensors to show what is nearby and all the relevant details. Should you choose to provide your email address, the details of your visit are recorded and an internet link provided by email enables you to recreate your visit at leisure through an interactive site!

Back to this shot. Apart from the wall, the fenced item at lower left is best described as an 'adult trampoline', whereby jumping on it rings one of several large bronze bells. I did say 'avant-garde'! If you've a little time, the website for MONA is www.mona.net.au