Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art is planning to expand, forming a partnership with a Thai real estate group to develop MONA Bangkok on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.
Mona has confirmed a memorandum of understanding has now been signed with Asset World Corp, with the agreement outlining a ‘shared vision’ that will ‘bring together Mona’s extensive experience creating internationally acclaimed art, music and cultural destinations with AWC’s record of landmark developments in Thailand’.
David Walsh, Mona’s founder, said, ‘Having spent most of the last 25 years studying how museums work, AWC has presented us with a remarkable opportunity to take what we’ve learned to one of the great tourist centres of the world.’
No timelines have been announced at this point, though it’s expected the new museum will be a counterpoint to Mona’s dark focus on sex and death, focusing instead on the theme of light.
MONA Bangkok – quick links
The team behind MONA Bangkok
The MONA Bangkok project will be led on Mona’s side by Leigh Carmichael under the direction of David Walsh, with assistance from a project team of skilled creatives.
Carmichael is the CEO and Creative Director of DarkLab, and has worked with Walsh for over 20 years. Together they established the Mona brand, the Dark Mofo festival, and the Hobart cultural precinct In The Hanging Garden.
More recently, Carmichael had to cancel DarkLab’s planned Doug Aitken installation in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, due to escalating costs.
‘MONA Bangkok will take the creative spirit of Mona into a new context,’ Carmichael said. ‘Like the museum in Hobart, it will be unconventional and unique, and will present work by leading international artists, while also creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue with Thai artists, audiences and cultural traditions.’
He added, ‘We look forward to working with AWC on this ambitious project, and to meeting with Thai artists, designers and makers as we begin the journey.’
AWC holds a diverse real estate portfolio, particularly across hospitality, tourism and lifestyle destinations. Properties include The Empire, Athenee Tower Building, the Asiatique The Riverfront Destination and Phenix.
Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer and President of AWC, said, ‘Together, we are building more than a new destination – we are creating a bridge between Thailand and Australia through a shared vision, a passion for art, a shared commitment to sustainable tourism and a belief in the power of culture to connect people.’
The early renders have been done by Six Degrees Architects, a Melbourne-based firm that specialises in urban precincts and developments that ‘create connection’.
The plans for a new destination in Bangkok
Mona opened in Hobart in 2011 and has since been visited by 5.2 million people. In that time, it’s drawn wide attention for revitalising Tasmanian tourism, and also for developing technology products for the galleries, libraries, archives and museums sector, like the O guide.
The museum’s owner David Walsh recently confirmed he still supports Mona and it does not turn a profit. He is also covering the costs of the failed Doug Aitken project.
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Bangkok is an interesting choice. It’s a city of over 9 million people, much larger than Hobart’s quarter of a million, and has several established art spaces and events. These include the brand new DiB Bangkok museum, which opened in December last year and has a permanent James Turrell installation.
Carmichael said: ‘Bangkok is already home to important contemporary art events and institutions including the Bangkok Art Biennale, MOCA Bangkok and the newly opened Dib Bangkok.
‘MONA Bangkok is intended to build on this momentum, helping strengthen the city’s position as a global art destination.’
The new museum’s theme of light will be explored both as a physical phenomenon and as a metaphor, Carmichael said. ‘Light has long been a source of fascination, reflection and hope across cultures, and it feels especially resonant in Bangkok, with its rich cultural life and traditions.’
He added, ‘I’m looking forward to listening, learning and seeing where this project leads as it develops.’
Yet the involvement of AWC suggests there will also be key differences between the Hobart museum and the new development, especially when it comes to the business model and expectations around profitability. The AWC CEO spoke of his belief in ‘the power of partnerships to create lasting cultural and economic value’, and also foregrounded the role that hospitality might play.
‘We are excited to welcome Mona to Bangkok to create a world-class cultural landmark that inspires creativity, fosters meaningful artist communities, and encourages more people to discover new experiences,’ Traisorat said.
‘By bringing together art, innovation and hospitality, MONA Bangkok will strengthen the creative industry and enhance Thailand as the leading global sustainable destination.’
