A mysterious long forgotten Tasmanian creature is back from the dead – sort of.
Hobart performance artist Matthew Stolp is the inaugural exhibition for the City of Hobart's InsideOUT program, bringing art outside the confines of traditional gallery spaces while maintaining a controlled indoor environment.
This innovative program operates within Creative Hobart's new public art platform, featuring two portable 'cube' galleries.
These cubes provide a secure, weatherproof setting to showcase a diverse range of creative works.
Mr Stolp will be bringing back the Cascade Funnel Web Spider, a species now considered extinct, through puppetry and performance art outside the Hobart Town Hall.
"I was just looking at threatened insects of Tasmania and this is an arachnid that was recorded in 1926 and hasn't been seen since," Mr Stolp said.
"So, it's on the extinct species list but there is some suggestion that maybe they might still be out there."
The spider will be dormant in the cube but spring to life at various times as Mr Stolp puts on the costume and takes up the character of the last Cascade Funnel Web looking for love.
Mr Stolp was a big supporter of the InsideOUT project.
"This is a great initiative," he said.
"I love to see public art out in the streets of Hobart as much as we can."
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said this was a significant initiative.
"The InsideOUT program represents a pivotal moment in our city's cultural landscape," Cr Reynolds said.
"By providing innovative platforms for artists to showcase their work, we are not only enriching the cultural fabric of our community but also democratizing access to art in all its forms."
Aligned with the Public Art Framework's key direction of "Expressive: City as a platform for creative expression," InsideOUT will deploy two tiny arts boxes across the municipality, offering space for artists working in diverse mediums including performance, visual arts, moving image, literature, sound, and music.
These customised cube shipping containers, equipped with glazed doors and digital media components, will serve as movable galleries, showcasing exhibitions for two to three months at a time.
Find more information and upcoming exhibitions on the InsideOUT page.
Gallery