MONA, Convicts and Unusual Geology

I’ve been to a few different modern art museums but the Hobart Museum of Old and New Art really pushes the definition of art. Upon arrival, there is a vineyard which posts signs like this to keep dirty humans out:

 

The building is entirely underground (built into the side of the cliff?) and connected by very dark tunnels. There are no windows. At the start is a beer roulette which Ross tried and got a Pilsner (from about 8 choices). 

Displays included virtual reality, a real 'digestive' system that is fed 2x a day and poops once a day, a tattooed man who has been on display since 2011; this drawing machine that is powered by the wind outside:

Another display was a giant waterfall that, with the use of a computer and lights, produced words pulled from current news items. Not sure what the one below is. 

None of the art has labels but instead you’re given an iPod like device that uses GPS to give you information about art works nearby. You can read or listen (or both). 

This room was kind of psychedelic made of glass and plastic although Mike told me it was phallic.

Port Arthur is well known for 2 things. In the 1800s it was a convict prison and is now a UNESCO site. And in the 1990s it became infamous as the site of a mass murder which led to Australia banning guns. 

The prison site is quite interesting as they have a lot of information about those who lived there. The buildings are mostly deteriorated but some have parts still standing. 

On the way back into Hobart we came upon some very interesting geological features. This first is a huge chasm called Tasman Arch which creates a bridge several hundred feet above the water. There is another one called Devils kitchen. 

When we saw signs to the Tessellated Pavement we were intrigued and since is was not far off the main road we decided to check it out. It reminded me of one of my favourite places - the Giant Causeway in Ireland. There the basalt formations are naturally occurring hexagons. Here the formations are basically square but all naturally formed from siltstone and salt water. This is part of the view from above.

At the surface you see these 'loaves' as well as some slightly concave 'pans'. 

Definitely some interesting things to see and do around Hobart if you come.