COURTESY MONA
Following the successful reversal of a Tasmanian court case, a women-only art installation will reopen at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Australia.
Artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele’s work, titled Ladies Lounge, made headlines when Jason Lau filed suit against the institution, claiming his rights were violated when he was denied access to the installation in April 2023. He then complained to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, who referred him to the tribunal.
In response, Kaechele argued that the artwork is intentionally hypocritical. The piece references a moment in Australian history before women won the right to drink in the nation’s pubs in 1965. Until then, women were either relegated to side rooms, where they were charged exorbitantly, or barred from these kinds of establishments altogether.
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Though the tribunal upheld the decision, ordering the museum to stop turning away male visitors from its installation, Australia’s Supreme Court later overturned the tribunal’s order, ruling that the Ladies Lounge was not discriminatory. The installation has now reopened, with champagne served by male butlers available to its female viewers.
“Welcome back, ladies,” Kaechele said in a release. “Through the court case, the Ladies Lounge has transcended the art museum and come to life. People from all over the world have been invited to contemplate the experiences of women throughout history and today.
“It is time to celebrate in the place where it all began—with the dedicated adoration of our butlers and copious amounts of champagne to toast this incredible chapter!”
Though men are still barred from the Ladies Lounge, a ballot on Mona’s app, the O, will allow a small number of men the chance to enter—with the caveat that they can only participate as domestic servants.
“Entry for ladies, and exclusion for men, is included as part of the museum entry ticket,” according to a museum statement.
Future events and performances held in relation to the piece will be announced. Additionally, to commemorate the piece’s run at the museum, Kaechele commissioned a new limited-edition fragrance, the Verdict, which has “an elegant bouquet of fine florals, lush green stems, juicy citrus and a hint of spice” for “the lady who appeals”, per the museum.
