Hobart, Australia: A controversial women-only exhibit at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) in Tasmania will be reopened after a legal battle. The exhibit, known as the Ladies Lounge, was coordinated to keep out male visitors as part of a broader observation on historic misogyny and female exclusion.
In this landmark decision, Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Shane Marshall discovered that the exhibit, despite its exclusion of men, did not violate anti-discrimination laws. Instead, he ruled that it promoted “equal opportunity” for a marginalised group, namely women, in line with provisions in Tasmanian law that allow for such practices when aimed at addressing inequality.
The exhibit’s creator, artist Kirsha Kaechele, hailed the ruling as a “big win” for women’s rights and gender equality. Kaechele said in a statement that, “Today’s verdict demonstrates a simple truth: women are better than men.”
The opulent Ladies Lounge, which first opened in 2020, was a key allure at Mona, featuring some of the museum’s most acclaimed works. Its exclusive nature, which barred male visitors, sought to illustrate the experiences of women who were historically banned from public spaces in Australia such as pubs and bars where they were not allowed to drink until the mid-20th century.
However, the exhibit faced legal challenges when a male patron, Jason Lau, filed a discrimination lawsuit after being denied entry in 2022. Representing himself, Lau argued that the museum had breached Tasmania’s anti-discrimination act by denying him and other non-female visitors the same access to its services. The tribunal initially ruled in his favour, forcing Mona to shutter the exhibit in May.
Mona had defended the exclusion as part of the artistic message, arguing that male visitors were not being denied the museum’s services but rather were participating in a form of “reverse exclusion” that highlighted gender imbalances. The tribunal rejected that defense, stating that women no longer face the same level of exclusion from public spaces.
Ruling overturns that earlier decision, and the case will now return to the tribunal for reconsideration. The museum’s legal team expressed satisfaction with the decision, noting that it recognised the exhibit’s intent to provoke thought about ongoing gender inequality.
Several steps remain before the Ladies Lounge can officially reopen, but the museum is optimistic about the exhibit’s future.
Mona, known for its provocative displays, continues to push boundaries in the art world, with the Ladies Lounge now serving as a key point in the conversation around gender and inclusion in public spaces.
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