The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Tasmania has opened David Walsh's dream library, called Phrontisterion.
The library houses the Mona founder's collection of nonfiction, novels, rare books, maps and autographs. It also includes a study, a lounge, a cave-like children's library, and an Ames illusion room.
On view are artworks by Joshua Yeldham, Lucas Grogan, Rachel Marks, Ben Jakober and Yannick Vu, Matthew Barney and Julian Charrière, and a desk, staircase and chandeliers by local blacksmith and artist Pete Mattila.
The new Phrontisterion library is part of the Museum of Old and New Art's new AUS$100m wing
"I was always all-in on books and libraries. My first library card was the great leveller, the thing that gave impoverished child-me a chance to seek," Walsh said.
Rare books in the library include Shakespeare’s 'First Folio', the second edition of Sir Isaac Newton’s Opticks, and the sixth edition of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species.
The space also features books signed by Umberto Eco, J.G. Ballard and Hunter S. Thompson, as well as handwritten documents by Honoré de Balzac, David Bowie, Walt Whitman, Gustave Flaubert, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Alexander Graham Bell.
The library at Mona houses founder David Walsh's collection of nonfiction, novels, rare books, maps and autographs
"If you want to know what David is really like, browse his bookshelves," said Mona's librarian, Mary Lijnzaad.
Phrontisterion is connected to Mona’s existing buildings via tunnels in the sandstone. It is located in the space beneath Elektra, a vast new artwork by German artist Anselm Kiefer.
The library is part of Mona's new AUS$100m wing, which opened last year after four years of construction.
Images courtesy of Mona/Jesse Hunniford
