Antarctic Flavour for Dark Mofo

Floating IceAs Dark Mofo 2015 gets underway, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) is proud to present the premiere exhibition of John Kelly's suite of Antarctic works as part of the festival program.

Beyond Woop Woop features a captivating series of paintings created by the artist in 2013 as part of a trip to Antarctica supported by an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship.
 
Kelly is an Australian artist who currently lives in Ireland. He has exhibited internationally and his works are held in collections worldwide, however he may be better known to Tasmanians for designing the labels for Moo Brew. 

On his journey to Antarctica, Kelly travelled with a light easel and a carry-case containing canvas boards, paints and brushes. He carried these through ice and snow on a mission to paint en plein air in one of the world's most extreme outdoor environments.

This system also enabled Kelly great flexibility, providing access to remote sites where he painted subjects as diverse as penguins, snow petrels, amphibious vehicles, helicopters and research stations to establish a many-sided view of Antarctic life.

Beyond Woop Woop also extends TMAG's long history with Antarctica, complementing one of the museum's most popular exhibits Islands to Ice and the museum's collection of Antarctic art works by artists such as Jan Senbergs, Bea Maddock, David Stephenson, Jorg Schmeisser, and Stephen Eastaugh.

To coincide with the exhibition's opening and the first night of Dark Mofo, TMAG will stay open late on Friday 12 June. Visitors will be able to explore the museum by night until 10:00 pm, with live entertainment and food and drink available.

Also during Dark Mofo, the museum will host an in-conversation session with well-loved local artist Patrick Hall about his exhibition Things I Once Knew, which is currently on show at TMAG. Hosted by exhibition curator Peter Hughes, the free event will take place on Friday 19 June at 11:00 am.

Narryna Heritage Museum is also getting involved in Dark Mofo 2015, with the fascinating exhibition Ashes to Ashes, which explores Georgian and Victorian death rituals. The museum, located in Battery Point, will be open late throughout the festival for visitors to attend and join in the wake-like ambiance that will be recreated. 

Beyond Woop Woop: John Kelly's Antarctic Paintings is presented by TMAG in association with Dark Mofo and is on show at TMAG from 12 June to 20 September 2015. The project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship.

Ashes to Ashes is on show at Narryna Heritage Museum from 12 – 21 June 2015 as part of Dark Mofo. For more information, visit the website.

Image details:
John Kelly, Floating ice (2013), oil on canvas board