The controversial women’s-only museum exhibit at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Hobart, Australia, may soon re-open after an appeal judge overturned a ruling that deemed it in violation of anti-discrimination laws. The exhibit, known as the Ladies Lounge, had faced backlash for banning male visitors in an effort to highlight historic misogyny.
The decision to re-open the exhibit was met with celebration by the artist, Kirsha Kaechele, and her supporters outside the court. Kaechele hailed the ruling as a “big win” and a victory over the patriarchy, stating that the Ladies Lounge provides women with a rare glimpse of being advantaged rather than disadvantaged.
The exhibit, which opened in 2020 and housed some of the museum’s most acclaimed works, was created by Kaechele to shed light on the exclusion Australian women have faced for decades. She described the Ladies Lounge as a “flipped universe” that offers a reset from the world of male domination.
The legal battle over the exhibit began when a male patron, Jason Lau, sued the gallery for gender discrimination after being denied entry into the Ladies Lounge. The tribunal initially ruled in his favor, but the recent decision to overturn that ruling has sparked hope for the exhibit’s re-opening.
While there are still steps to be taken before the Ladies Lounge can officially welcome visitors again, the museum’s legal team is optimistic about the future. They believe that the exhibit serves an important purpose in highlighting and challenging inequality for women in all spaces today.
As the case heads back to the tribunal for reconsideration, Kaechele and her team are looking forward to sharing what comes next and are planning a celebration to mark the occasion. The re-opening of the Ladies Lounge could be a significant moment for the art world and a step towards promoting equal opportunity for all.
