Updated April 26, 2017 20:13:44

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has labelled a Dark Mofo art performance with a freshly slaughtered bull "confronting", and said he did not think he would attend.

However, Mr Hodgman said his government would not do anything to stop it going ahead.

Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch will direct the three-hour piece, described as a "bloody, sacrificial ritual" during the festival in June.

It caused widespread community concern, despite assurances the animal would be killed humanely before the adults-only show.

Photo: Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch is known for using carcasses, blood and the entrails of animals. (Supplied: www.nitsch.org)

Nitsch, 78, is known for using carcasses, blood and the entrails of slaughtered animals in his work.

Thousands have signed a petition calling for the performance to be banned by the Hobart City Council and the Lord Mayor Sue Hickey has spoken strongly against it.

When asked about the performance today, Mr Hodgman said he was unlikely to attend.

"I think this is a very confronting issue for Tasmanians and I can entirely understand why people would not want to go and see such a thing, I don't think I'll be going," he said.

"It's certainly not something that you would want children to see."

Mr Hodgman said his government would not be intervening to stop the performance, saying it was limited to adults only and privately funded.

"I don't believe it's a good place for politicians to be in, to be making judgment calls about art no matter how confronting it is," he said.

"No-one needs to go if they don't want to."

Topics: contemporary-art, carnivals-and-festivals, state-parliament, hobart-7000

First posted April 26, 2017 19:16:46