Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) hosts a special section named the Ladies Lounge, a space where only women and one designated male butler are permitted. The butler’s role is to cater to the women visitors, enhancing the exclusive experience.
The area is adorned with works from renowned artists, including Picasso, and is set apart from the museum’s main exhibition spaces by luxurious green drapes. It emphasizes a throwback to a past era, offering a high-end high tea service at a price of $325, complete with exquisite lite bites.
The Ladies Lounge became a topic of legal attention when a gentleman, Jason Lau, brought forth a complaint to a tribunal, citing violation of anti-discrimination laws due to the gender-exclusive policy.
MONA’s defense argues that the exclusion is a critical element of the artwork, asserting that discrimination can sometimes be a justified means of promoting equality for historically marginalized groups, such as women.
Artist Kirsha Kaechele, responsible for the creation of the lounge, supports the policy, indicating that it draws inspiration from the not-too-distant past when women were relegated to certain areas in public settings.
MONA, built by the unconventional David Walsh, is known for pushing boundaries and stirring public discussion. The museum’s exhibits have not shied away from the provocative or controversial, often becoming the subjects of public protests.
It boasts a variety of unique artworks, including a wall of vulva sculptures and a mechanical installation that simulates human digestion.
During the tribunal hearing, Kaechele appeared with a group of 25 women, all in attire befitting the formality of the occasion, a gesture to emphasize the feminist undertones of her art.
The artist, who does not typically label her work as feminist, read a poem by the Guerrilla Girls, an activist art collective, further underscoring the feminist lineage influencing her piece.
The discussion about the Ladies Lounge transcends art, dipping into the realms of gender politics and social norms.
If the tribunal ruling is unfavorable, Kaechele expresses her willingness to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, adamant about maintaining the integrity of her artistic vision.
The lounge, therefore, continues to stir dialogue both within and outside the artistic community, blurring the lines between art, advocacy, and the persistence of gendered spaces.
Featured Image Credit: jeffowenphotos / Flickr
great, now even art is gendered. what’s next, gender-specific paint colors?