The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Australia, has re-opened Ladies Lounge, an art installation featuring women-only spaces by artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele, after a landmark Supreme Court ruling overturned an earlier anti-discrimination tribunal finding. The installation stirred controversy in April 2023 after Jason Lau filed a lawsuit against the museum, arguing that excluding men from the exhibit was a violation of his rights. The case was forwarded to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, who ruled in Lau’s favour and ordered that the museum must not limit male visitors. The Supreme Court of Australia later overturned the ruling, saying the display was not discriminatory.
Historical Hypocrisy in Focus
Kaechele’s Ladies Lounge is inspired by Australian history prior to 1965, when women were banned from hotels or sidelined in meagerly-priced side rooms. “The artwork is purposely hypocritical,” Kaechele said, explaining that the goal was to stimulate thought around how women have been treated in the past and continue to be treated today.
A Grand Reopening Celebration
The reopening was then celebrated with an event in which female guests were served champagne from male butlers in a space dedicated to “contemplation and celebration.” “The court case made the Ladies Lounge transcend the art museum and come alive,” Kaechele said in a statement. Now, it’s time to celebrate in the birthplace of it all—with the dedicated devotion of our butlers and bountiful champagne to toast this phenomenal chapter!”
While male visitors are still banned from entering, Mona has created a sort of ballot via its app, the O, allowing a select few men to get involved — as domestic servants inside the exhibit.
Expanding the Experience
The museum also plans to hold future events and performances in relation to the piece, digging deeper into its themes. To celebrate the reopening, Kaechele has also introduced a limited-edition scent, called Verdict. Described as “an elegant bouquet of fine florals, lush green stems, juicy citrus and a hint of spice,” the fragrance evokes “the lady who appeals,” the museum said.
A Conversation Starter
With Ladies Lounge, Mona encourages viewers to confront the societal issues of past discrimination and gender roles in a challenge to traditional, contemporary art practices. “Entrance for ladies, and exclusion for men, are included as part of the museum entrance ticket,” the museum states, ensuring the artwork keeps its original exclusive character as it continues to provoke debate and discussion.
Feature Image: Inside the Ladies Room in MONA. Photo: Mona/Eden Meure, courtesy the Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
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