MONA founder David Walsh has apologised over a controversial artwork planned for a popular winter festival that would have soaked a British flag in the blood of First Nations peoples.Less than 24 hours after defending the work after strong nationwide outrage against the concept — Union Flag by Spanish artist Santiago Sierra — Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael announced they were cancelling it.But Walsh has now revealed that many Mona staff members had signed a letter penned by curator Emma Pike and sent to him, denouncing Sierra’s project. “This work is tone-deaf to the current fights for a treaty, equality, for Aboriginal-led conversations, and ultimately reconciliation (no matter how fraught this particular concept may be),” a portion of the letter read.“But while hearing her voice in my head, I’m wondering, ‘Just because I started to think it’s poor art, do I get to kill it? We’ve presented lots of stuff I didn’t like. Art, particularly political art, is deeply subjective,” Walsh said.“I’ve silenced that voice. And the one that says this: ‘If we stick with the easy, the beautiful, the painless, we become a clone of state museology, and a vessel for mediocrity.’ “I should not sway at the whim of criticism. But neither should I be impervious to it. I’m here, trying to learn from it.”Walsh said he had been in talks with Dark Mofo director Leigh Carmichael who “is suffering” and, like him, “didn’t see the deeper consequences of this proposition”. His full statement can be read here.Speaking about the cancellation on Tuesday, Mr Carmichael said the festival had “made a mistake, and take full responsibility”, before apologising to First Nations people for any hurt caused.Dark Mofo on Saturday said the artist was seeking blood from First Nations people for the art work, which drew a flood of criticism online.Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s Nala Mansell said while she supported the purpose and message of the proposed art work, the method had caused offence.Ms Mansell also questioned Dark Mofo’s claim that they had consulted with the Aboriginal community before making the idea public.“It’s important to acknowledge that a bloody war took place in Tasmania, and that many thousands of Aboriginal lives were lost during the British invasion of the country,’’ she said.“But I think the fact there was no consultation with the community and that the first people were aware of the art project was seeing a call for Aboriginal blood donations is what’s led to people being on the back foot and being opposed to the project.”Ms Mansell praised festival directors for acknowledging the past, but said Aboriginal artists should be consulted in future.But another Tasmanian Aboriginal leader, Michael Mansell, said it was disappointing the planned art work was not going ahead.“The Spanish artist was supporting Aboriginal people, and the hidden history of what happened to us — he was not trying to offend us,’’ he said.“People who complained about the art may have misunderstood the message the artist was hoping to project.”But Mr Mansell said he understood the decision to cancel the display.Museum of Old and New Art co-chief executive Mark Wilsdon said “forces within Mona rightly pushed to get this project cancelled”.Mr Wilsdon said Mona and DarkLab were separate entities with the same owner.“The proposed Dark Mofo project’s impact on the First Nations community shattered some and enraged others,’’ he said.Mr Wilsdon said it was an important moment for the organisation.“My intention is to make sure our deep self-reflection at this time doesn’t stop here,’’ he said.Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz welcomed the cancellation of the art work but suggested Dark Mofo also apologise to British people.“The desecration of another nation’s flag is deplorable and British people can be rightfully upset that there were plans to denigrate their national symbol,’’ he said.Prior to the cancellation announcement, Mona curator Pippa Mott was among those to speak out strongly against it, saying the art work was an “abomination” that would “exploit and re-traumatise” First Nations people.UPDATE: THE organisers of Dark Mofo have moved swiftly to cancel its controversial planned artwork which would have involved the blood of Indigenous people on a Union Jack flag.In a social media post this afternoon, creative director Leigh Carmichael said the organisers had heard the community’s response to Santiago Sierra’s Union Flag. “In the end the hurt that will be caused by proceeding isn’t worth it,” he wrote.“We made a mistake, and take full responsibility. The project will be cancelled.“We apologise to all First Nations people for any hurt that has been caused. We are sorry.”INITIAL:MONA FOMA curator Brian Ritchie has joined the chorus of artists and entertainment industry names speaking out against Dark Mofo’s latest controversial artwork.The former Violent Femmes bassist and Tasmanian identity took to Facebook to slam the proposed piece, which called for donations of blood from Indigenous people.Dark Mofo announced over the weekend that Spanish artist Santiago Sierra was preparing an artwork with a profound message about the bloodshed of First Nations peoples across the world at the hands of the British colonisers.Mr Ritchie’s statement blasted the move, calling it a “gimmick and publicity stunt disguised as a mediocre artwork” and distancing himself from the event.“I would like to call attention to the fact that Team MONA FOMA are a completely different and separate organisation and had/have nothing to do with the programming of that work,” he said.“Many others are rightfully decrying the cultural insensitivity of this work. Exploiting people while claiming to protest on their behalf is intellectually void. Stupid programming is aesthetically null. Controversy outweighing the quality of the work is bad art.”He offered his apologies to those offended by the proposed exhibit.“I hope Mona as a wider organisation steps up to the plate and does the right thing,” Mr Ritchie said.“I am advocating for that internally.”He signed off his statement with a plea for people to stop sending “any more urine soaked pillows to me” because “I have nothing to do with this inanity and disavow it as an individual and on behalf of Team Mona Foma”.11.20AM:A MAJOR project seeking blood from Indigenous peoples to dip the Union Flag into has drawn criticism from celebrities and community groups, but not everyone is opposed.Dark Mofo announced on Saturday Spanish artist Santiago Sierra was preparing an artwork with a profound message about the bloodshed of First Nations peoples across the world at the hands of the British colonisers.While his intent has garnered praise, the announcement on social media that Sierra wanted volunteers from various First Nations backgrounds – including Inuit and Aboriginal communities – to donate their blood to the art piece drew a flood of online criticism.The Facebook and Instagram posts from Dark Mofo stated “we want your blood”, with more than 1000 comments pouring in.Commenter Emma Ismawi dubbed the idea “re-traumatising” and “insensitive”.Craig Vertigan sarcastically posted: “what better way to show Aboriginal people that Mona cares about them than to have a Spanish dude shed some more of their blood and get paid for the privilege of doing so.”Another Facebook commenter pointed out the historic link between colonialism and parading First Nations body parts “in a centuries long feast of the exotic”.Union Jack Dark Mofo exhibition pollSocial media user Lucy Treloar said, “Listen to the opposition of Indigenous people who were colonised under the Union Jack, and reflect on why a Spanish artist would want to commemorate that, conveniently forgetting their own country’s violent colonising history.”Other users pointed out the most important blood donations should go directly to the Red Cross.Celebrities and artists from across Australia expressed outrage including journalist Lee Lin Chin and artists Briggs, Rachael Sarra and Kira Puru.But not everyone opposed the artwork, with commenter Brendon Warner labelling the piece “bold, relevant and timely” and pointing out giving blood was voluntary, not enforced.“I see it as an opportunity to bring the dialogue forward, not theft,” he said.Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign manager Nala Mansell praised the artist’s intent but claimed the Tasmanian Aboriginal community wasn’t made aware of the art work until it was posted on social media.She suggested the artwork could go ahead without using First Nations blood, or by adding the Australian flag in with the Union Jack.“There’s been a huge outcry from the Aboriginal community about the offensiveness of calling for Aboriginal blood, I would suggest an apology to the community for the offence caused,” she said.“The Union Flag does have a bloody history. It’s a great concept but it could be done in a better way.“I definitely would encourage them to work with the Aboriginal community.”In a statement on Dark Mofo’s social media pages, creative director Leigh Carmichael said Dark Mofo had held conversations with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community before announcing the project.He said the team had been “overwhelmed” with reactions from Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from across the world and said Dark Mofo respected everyone’s views, but self-expression was a “fundamental human right”.“We support artists to make and present work regardless of their nationality or cultural background,” Mr Carmichael said.“It’s not surprising that the atrocities committed as a result of colonising nations continue to haunt us.”INITIAL, MARCH 20:IT wouldn’t be Dark Mofo without a dash of politics, a smidgen of controversy and a few drops of blood. The festival has announced plans for a new colonisation artwork requiring an unusual public donation.Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael promised punters in February the “grim and gloomy affair” marking the winter solstice would return despite COVID-19 restrictions.The festival’s first major project announced today (Saturday) has stayed true to the bleak Dark Mofo brand.Subversive Spanish artist Santiago Sierra has asked First Nations people from various countries colonised by the British Empire who live in Australia to donate a small amount of blood for his artwork titled Union Flag.He will randomly select one representative from each country to give blood to be mixed in an aluminium bucket, into which the Union Flag will be dipped before being on display during Dark Mofo.Santiago Sierra said in an open letter the First Nations people have “suffered enormously” in Australia and in Tasmania where the Black War unleashed genocide against Indigenous communities.Sierra said the “indiscriminate mixing” of blood would signify equality across races and cultures.“The intent of this project is against colonialism,” he said.“Colonisation by the British Empire is only one example of plundering and conquest, albeit one of the most forceful, both for its geographic reach and for the genocidal methods applied.”Leigh Carmichael said expressions of interest have opened for the “logistically difficult” project’s first phase.“Sierra’s work is complex, sometimes confronting and much of his work tends to deal with social inequities,” he said.“He was commissioned to present a new work for Dark Mofo and today’s announcement is the result of almost two years of work between his studio and the festival team.“We hope to receive interest from as many people as possible.”Applicants to do not need to provide evidence of their cultural identity, but those selected will donate about 470ml of blood with help from a medical professional.Dark Mofo will launch their full program in early April for the festival running June 16-22 2021.To register before expressions of interest close on April 23 visit darkmofo.net.au/[email protected]



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