The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is an amazing museum, with an innovative approach to the display of artefacts. Objects (common and rare) are exhibited like precious gems, contributing to the overall impression of a calm, uncluttered and considered space. The museum pays homage to its state collection, whilst containing some quite quirky contemporary, commissioned objects of art (for example ‘The Distiller’ by Mish Meijers and Tricky Walsh). Here are some shots (and a drawing) from a recent visit.

As part of his practice Ai Wei Wei salvages and repurposes/represents found cultural artefacts. In a neat symmetry with my own interest in the explorers and treasure hunters of the Silk Road, Ai Wei Wei has included the feet remaining from looted Buddhist statues in his current exhibition at NGV.

One of the more curious works at APT8 is the photograph titled ‘White Darkness’ by (and featuring) Morimura Yasumasa. The APT8 has an interesting and learned article on this work, under the heading ‘Morality and Desire’. From this I deduce that the photo is included as a reference or signifier for subsequent contemporary works, which perhaps explains why a 2008 reprint of a 1994 original is included in a contemporary art exhibition. The article references the tradition of using the slaughtered ox in Western art, specifically by Rembrandt.