BEYOND BLOOD: DARK MOFO 2017

Vivienne Cutbush

Published July 2017

Artist and writer Vivienne Cutbush looks beyond blood, shock and awe reviewing Dark Mofo 2017.

Dark Mofo ran from 8-21 June 2017 in Hobart, Tasmania.

Handwritten text on a black background. It reads: 'The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) has built a reputation on its power to elicit gasps, shock and awe. Penises and guts. Bloody rituals. Pagan sacrifice. The stench of faeces.'
An illustration featuring a vibrant, multicolored piece of meat on a hanger to the left, and a monochromatic sketch of a person’s face with hands covering the mouth to the right, against a light background.
White handwritten text on a black background discussing Hermann Nitsch’s 150.Action at the DARK MOFO Festival, referred to as ‘Slaughter Art’ involving blood.
An artistic sketch showing two separate drawings: one of a pair of human legs from the thighs down, and another of a human hand with fingers slightly curled. Both images appear to be rendered in a monochromatic style against a gray background. The hand is drawn with a black background, creating a stark contrast, while the legs are drawn on a white background.
Handwritten white text on a black background reads: When asked to write this piece for Runway Conversations, I was given the simple brief—a feminist review of mofo. I emailed back—YES, but to be honest, I wasn't really sure what that entailed.
A monochrome drawing featuring a portrait of a person with a contemplative expression and the hand-written text, I thought of ZOE LEONARD's words: above. Below the portrait is a black rectangle with white text that reads, Perhaps I just cannot help but bring my GAZE with me I am an artist I am a woman I'm QUEER. The text and portrait convey a personal reflection or statement on identity.
White handwritten text on a black background expressing an individual’s perspective on MONA, associating it with themes of sex and death, and suggesting that the art and curation are viewed from a male perspective.
A sketched face with a striking red band covering the eyes, which drips down the cheeks like tears. The rest of the face is rendered in black and white with expressive lines, set against a pale gray background.
White handwritten text on a black background stating, And yet, the light gets in—the most INTERESTING experiences and COMPELLING artworks during MONA's DARK mofo festival this year came from female artists.
A mixed media image with sketches and handwritten text. At the top, a black-and-white portrait of a woman and text that reads Nat Randall's 24-hour performance work THE SECOND WOMAN has run on in my mind ever since I saw it. Below, two sketches: in the middle, a glass of water next to a Chinese takeaway box with chopsticks; on the bottom, a red sketch of a seated figure with hands on their knees. Additional text states, I was held in the act of looking. She was vulnerable. She was STRONG. She was wit. She was a short story (one hundred times over). She was tired to the BONE. She was the SECOND SEX. She was WOMAN.
A grayscale illustration with text and drawings, including a detailed sketch of a microphone against a black background. Handwritten text reads, Isabel Lewis hosted 'OCCASIONS' which blurred the line between ART and LIFE. I went home feeling inspired and thoughtful, intelligent and amused, curious and full. This is the simple BRILLIANCE of ART. Also depicted are the sketches of plant leaves.
An illustration with hand-drawn elements and text describing a dynamic art event. The text reads In amongst the CHAOS of the art party WELCOME STRANGER, there was a reclamation of space at hand. Ruth LANGFORD, a local Aboriginal woman (Yorta Yorta PALAWA) undertook an Acknowledgement of COUNTRY on the floor of the SEPULCHRE. BETTY GRUMBLE performed SEX clown at the CHURCH altar. And Amrita HEPI, a BUNDJALUNG and NGAPUHI woman, moved in miraculous ways in the MASONIC TEMPLE. Accompanying sketches include a detailed eye, raised hands, and a colorful fragment of what appears to be clothing or a costume.
White handwritten text on a black background expressing admiration for female artists. It reads: I applaud these women, these ARTISTS, these bodies of glitter and hope, for the lump they created in the back of my throat, for the way they made my heart beat a little faster, harder. They show ART does not need to shock for shock's SAKE or in order to make one feel something.
A grayscale illustration with handwritten text and sketches. The text reads, ART can be small, discrete. The movements of a body across the floor, a glance, a performance of intimacy or vulnerability. Above the text is a drawing of feet in black shoes and part of a pleated skirt, suggesting motion. Below the text is a portrait of a person with a contemplative expression.
White handwritten text on a black background reflecting on the nature of an arts festival. It reads: DARK mofo is a festival which generates CONVERSATIONS - across plates of mac n' cheese or around fire drums. This is VALUABLE - Conversations create and foster a sense of community. But can they make a community, a society, more inclusive of women and aware of intersectionality? Can conversations influence curatorial decisions and ART festival programming? I don't know.
A grayscale sketch of a person with a neutral expression, raising their index finger with a red mark on the tip, possibly blood. The person has short hair, wide eyes, and freckles, and is wearing a round-neck top.
White handwritten text on a black background offering a critical perspective on the themes of an art festival. It reads: I think, conversations around DARK mofo need to go beyond NITSCH and bro-masculinity. Beyond blood. (LET'S PUSH BACK) CONVERSATIONS have the potential to WAKE us up, make us more DELIBERATE in how we APPROACH art, or how we TALK about it.
A set of three monochromatic sketches showing exaggerated facial expressions on abstracted faces. Each face is unique in its expression, ranging from surprise and concern to ambiguity and contemplation, highlighting a variety of human emotions.
Alt text: White handwritten text on a black background praising various artists. It reads: Artists such as NAT RANDALL (and her all-female production team), BETTY GRUMBLE, Amrita Hepi, and ISABEL Lewis are creating ART beyond blood ART that resonates in the head and HEART. And it is this ART that deserves the CONVERSATIONS and standing ovations.
A grayscale drawing of two abstract faces with neutral expressions side by side. The face on the left has a longer, downturned mouth and the one on the right appears slightly more surprised with an open mouth.
Red handwritten text on a black background with a strong message. It reads: MONA and your bros, step aside and pay your dues to the many women of MoFo. You might have started the party but these women keep the FIRES ablaze.
A mixed-media artwork displaying a topless figure making a roaring expression, raising their arms in a display of strength. The figure holds a red object in one hand and is wearing white underwear and black high-heeled shoes. The image combines drawing and collage techniques on a brown paper background.

Biographies

Vivienne Cutbush is a writer, poet and artist based in Hobart, Tasmania.