“We Just Want Respect”: Artists Demand Change At Dark Mofo Following ‘Union Flag’ Fallout
Kira Puru, Mo'Ju, L-Fresh The Lion, and Clementine Ford have all added their names to the petition.
A huge number of local artists including Kira Puru, Mo’Ju, and L-Fresh The Lion have added their names to a petition and open letter demanding action from Dark Mofo and Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) following the controversy surrounding the Union Flag artwork.
The winter art festival caused outrage earlier this week when it announced it would be featuring a new work by Spanish artist Santiago Sierra, Union Flag, which would see the British flag immersed in the blood of First Nations people colonised by Britain.
The festival put a call out on social media for First Nations people to donate their blood: “On behalf of artist Santiago Sierra, we are looking for people to take part in Union Flag: a new artwork that will see the Union Jack immersed in the blood of its colonised territories at Dark Mofo. Participants will be invited to donate a small amount of blood to the artwork, facilitated by a medical professional before the festival.”
After a wave of condemnation Dark Mofo initially doubled down, releasing a statement saying that “self-expression is a fundamental human right”.
I couldn’t come up with a worse response @Dark_Mofo pic.twitter.com/Hyocj8fiI5
— Kira Puru (@kirapuru) March 22, 2021
Less than a day later, organisers backtracked, apologising for “any hurt caused” and announcing they’d be cancelling the artwork. “We made a mistake, and take full responsibility,” Dark Mofo director Leigh Carmichael said in a statement. “The project will be cancelled. We apologise to all First Nations people for any hurt that has been caused. We are sorry.”
Yesterday, in response to the fallout, a collective of First Nations artists put forward a petition on Change.Org and Instagram demanding structural change at MONA and Dark Mofo.
“We no longer believe that your organisations are safe and respectful working environments for First Nation artists, arts curators and arts workers,” the petition reads. “We are a collective of First Nation Artists, Curators and Arts workers, as well as Non-Indigenous allies who will not work with MONA, MONA FOMA and DARK MOFO until there are organisational reforms to be respectful to First Peoples, our culture and our histories.”
The petition requests a number of actions from the organisations — including formal apologies for past events which have negatively affected First Peoples; introducing cultural awareness training and decolonisation workshops; appointing a First Peoples Advisory Board, and developing a reconciliation action plan.
“Until these requirements are addressed and fulfilled by the MONA organisations, the signatories of the document will not work with the organisations in any capacity,” the petition finishes. “We hope that MONA, DARK MOFO and MONA FOMA take this opportunity to learn from the past and make a positive step forward to engage with the Australian First Peoples Arts community in the future. We just want respect!”
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The petition has reached nearly 3000 signatures at the time of writing, while public figures like Kira Puru, Barkaa, Alice Skye, Emily Wurramara, L-Fresh The Lion, feminist writer Clementine Ford, and renowned artist Tony Albert have added their names on Instagram.
Dark Mofo and MONA have yet to respond to the petition.