TASMANIA is now the home of a forgotten masterpiece that has never been displayed in Australia and only seen publicly twice.
The monumental series of paintings by one of Australia’s greatest artists, Sir Sidney Nolan, has been hidden from view - because it’s simply too big for normal art galleries.
But Australians - and the world - will now see the work, Snake, in all its glory thanks to Tasmanian multi-millionaire and arts philanthropist David Walsh
Snake will be the centrepiece of Walsh’s private gallery, the Museum of Old and New Art, or MONA - the largest such establishment in the southern hemisphere - when it opens in Hobart later this month.
It is expected to attract art lovers from around the world.
Because of its massive size, 46 metres long and nine metres high, Snake has been displayed in its entirety only twice since Nolan created it in 1971.
“People won’t come from New York to see the National Gallery or TMAG because they are repositories of what is culturally worthwhile in Australia,” Walsh said.
“They will come to see MONA because in its thinking MONA is totally international, just like Nolan was thinking internationally when he created Snake.”
Walsh bought the painting for more than $2 million in 2006 just three weeks after he discovered it was for sale.
“I was looking for something to centre the gallery around and when I discovered Snake was for sale I decided that was it,” Walsh said.
“It simply came along at the right time.
“Nolan’s widow, Mary Nolan, had been looking for a buyer for 12 years and it was placed with me within three weeks.”
Walsh said the size of the painting had made it extraordinarily difficult to sell.
“It wasn’t going to fit in someone’s living room, that’s for sure.”
He said once he found Snake the rest of his gallery, which opens on January 21, fell into place.
…
MONA director Mark Fraser, who sold Snake to Walsh in his previous role as managing director of Sotheby’s Australia, said he was certain it would prove to be a huge drawcard for Tasmania.
“Snake, which is by far Sir Sidney Nolan’s largest painting, is a tour de force, an absolute masterpiece,” he said.
“Having it on permanent display in a museum with free entry is going to be a huge attraction.”
And,
THE third annual MONA FOMA arts and music festival is only two weeks away, and the finishing touches are starting to come together.
This year MOFO is set to stretch the boundaries and will lead up to the much anticipated opening of the Museum of Old and New Art on January 21.
Once again, the overwhelming majority of MOFO events are free, making it hugely accessible to anyone who wants to be involved.
MOFO and MONA visual arts curator Nicole Durling said she was feeling calm before the imminent start of the festival.
“I’m really excited. This year MOFO is bigger and better, and it’s being put on in more places,” she said.
“It’s our third festival and the best yet, I think.
“There’s a lot more going on and it’s a great build-up to the opening of the museum.”
The two events were strongly linked.
“MOFO is MONA and MONA is MOFO,” Ms Durling said.
On Tasmanian Times: MOFO and MONA programs HERE
Show Comments
Comments (5)