THE WALL — Attraction in Tasmania

I appreciate the work of the artist, Evan though it is something that is not unique. I have seen a lot of wood carvings that are just as outstanding, and on walls, but probably not as big. I went to view this display today, and it was one of the most upsetting times of my life. I didn’t realise that you could not take photos, as the sign in reception is that small you could barely see it. Please take into account we have been travelling, up early and 3hrs to get there.While taking a photo, I had a customer abuse me and tell me how I couldn’t follow rules, with that, he went and dobbed on me. A staff member came running down, shouting at me and telling me that when I booked on line I signed a contract. That this was all under copy right. That he wanted to see my photos and made me delete them in front of him. Now I know I was wrong in taking the photos, maybe I should have been more observant of the sign, but to approach me the way he did was disgusting. He made me feel like a criminal. Everyone was looking at me, I was so humiliated.i must have apologised abut four time. I was prepared to spend at least $200 in the gift shop, but I just wanted to get out of there, as I was having a panic attack. To tell you the truth, they say it takes 1hr, but you can do it in 15mins. I think if they just remind you about the photos as you enter the premises or even if that man advised me in a better manner, I would have had a better experience. As I was walking out, I warned a couple who were coming in, they seemed disappointed .Unfortunately, when someone asks me about The Wall, this is the story they are going to get, not how much I enjoyed it. So be aware that, no photos are allowed or they will...

The only rules that visitors are asked to respect are to not touch any of the works, not take photos, and to ensure children are closely supervised by parents - all perfectly reasonable requests. Your first indication of what you are about to see is the sign on the side of the road. It is a large black sign with the simply yet elegant words "The Wall" - understated. When you enter the building you are immediately wowed by some samples of Greg Duncan's work - but the best is yet to come. Gregg's work is impressive. On The Wall, he tells the story of the history of Australia with minimal words. Words aren't needed because it is all in the intricate, larger than life, carvings. Take your time because the more you look at the carvings the more you see. After your first lap of the wall, you can visit an equally elegant cafe that serves savoury scones like you've never had before. After your coffee and scones, back to the wall to revisit. The likelihood is that this lap will be slower than the first. The second lap reveals even more of his technique and artistry - perfection. If you happen to miss how good his work is, there are a number of sections of unfinished works which provide a greater insight into both his planning and mastery. Finish off by viewing the pencil drawings of another fine artist, another lap of the art works in the reception and lastly, if you dare, purchase all three volumes of his work. Is $15 entry worth it? The best $15 I've ever spent. Don't visit Tasmania without...

I have mixed feelings about this exhibition. On one hand, the artist is undeniably brilliant—his skill and attention to detail are astonishing and deserve the utmost respect. However, I have two points of criticism that I believe are worth discussing, as art is meant to question the status quo, and therefore, aspects of this exhibition should be open to questioning as well.

Firstly, if part of the exhibition’s purpose is to highlight the negative impact of deforestation and the declining care for native Tasmanian wildlife due to human activity (during the colonial period), then why is it located deep in the forest, attracting a high volume of visitors and increasing human activity in the very environment it seeks to protect? Additionally, if the artist is raising awareness about the harm caused by human presence in this area, why does he himself reside there and enjoy its benefits?

Secondly, I found the sign at the entrance particularly thought-provoking—it states that taking photos is “unaustralian.” This raises the question: is it truly about cultural values, or is it more about restricting access to images in order to generate additional revenue by keeping the exhibition exclusive? Wouldn’t it, in fact, be more unaustralian to limit awareness of the very issues the exhibition aims to highlight?

Overall, while the artistry is undeniably impressive, these contradictions left me questioning the message behind...