Week One highlights include the launch of the festival’s full art program, including influential video and new media artist Bill Viola (USA), as well as the photographer, sculpturist, and multi-channel video artist Doug Aitken (USA).
There will also be a special ‘Mona Up Late’ opening of three new major exhibitions: Jeremy Shaw (Canada), Fiona Hall (lutruwita/Tasmania) and AJ King (lutruwita/Tasmania bigambul/wakka wakka), and Robert Andrew(Brisbane Yawuru), and this year the event will see the return of its exclusive and infamously debaucherous costume event, this year titled The Blue Rose Ball.
As for week two, highlights include celebrated musician, composer and producer Nils Frahm (Germany) playing a number of world premiere shows titled ‘Music For Hobart’. He will also perform at the Opera House as part of VIVID Live, with the festivals working together to secure exclusive Australian performances.
Other major international artists feature as well, including performances by the devastatingly beautiful, classically-trained multi-instrumentalist Lingua Ignota (USA), the visual artist, writer, actor and a founding member of the post-punk experimental rock band Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon and band, performing songs from her 2019 solo release ‘No Home Record’, renowned space rock band Spiritualized^ (England), an exclusive appearance from rock band Deafheaven, plus a full band rock set from Chelsea Wolfe and a solo piano set from Emma Ruth Rundle (USA).