Silent treatment brings underground event to dull ending

WITHOUT so much as a hello, smile or a wave, Mike Parr last night climbed out of his underground tomb before being whisked out of Hobart’s cold and dark winter.

A large crowd braved the chilly conditions on Macquarie St to see the Australian per- formance artist being released from the container in which he was buried for three days — as part of Dark Mofo.

The lid was lifted about 9.35pm, with Parr stepping out at 9.40pm before being quickly ushered away. He didn’t speak a word or even offer a gesture to his cheering spectators.

The Mercury was told by Dark Mofo organisers that neither Parr nor Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael would be addressing the media.

Parr will instead speak at a post-performance forum tomorrow from 1-2pm at the University of Tasmania’s Dechaineux Theatre on Hunter St. The 73-year-old’s performance Underneath the Bitumen the Artist was an acknowledgment to the transportation of 75,000 British and Irish convicts to Tasmania in the 19th century, and the subsequent destruction of the state’s Aboriginal population.

Spectator and Aboriginal community member Nala Mansell said Parr should have spoken publicly after his emer- gence or maybe come out waving an Aboriginal flag.

“I think for sure if there was a platform once he’d come out where he could educate the community on the Aboriginal history in Tasmania rather than [it being] just a symbolic gesture,” she said.

Ms Mansell said she supported Parr raising awareness for the burial of indigenous history but a discussion should have been held.

“I do think it would have been better to have consulted the Aboriginal community before he’d done this and we could have offered our support,” she said.

Spectator Anthony Strong of Lutana said Parr could have

said something to the public but that was not the artist’s style.

“He’s given his impression of [the performance] to us … but he wants it to be about how we feel about it,” Mr Strong said.

Roland Browne of Glebe wasn’t disappointed that Parr left the scene without speaking.

“It’s a very personal experience for him and the way peo- ple perceive his artistic venture is a matter for the individual,” Mr Browne said.

“I don’t think he needs to justify anything he’s done.”

Air was pumped into the container to keep Parr alive but he didn’t take any food, only water, and planned to spend his time meditating, drawing and reading.