The Ladies’ Lounge exhibit at Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) will reopen for a celebratory “victory lap” after a legal win over a man who claimed the space was discriminatory.
The background: MONA shut the lounge in April after Jason Lau complained to the state’s civil and administrative tribunal because he wasn’t allowed entry.
The tribunal and ordered that MONA allow men access, something the gallery wasn’t prepared to do.
In September, the Supreme Court of Tasmania quashed the tribunal’s decision after an appeal by the gallery and sent it back for reconsideration.
MONA curator Kirsha Kaechele announced on Wednesday that the lounge would reopen from 19 December to 13 January for a final month of “celebration, performance and general lavishness”.
The lounge will feature commissioned artworks and performances, and women will be waited on by butlers, receive a glass of bubbles and “take respite from the patriarchy”. Men remain banned, but a select few can be “of service” through a digital ballot.
The key quote: “It is time to celebrate in the place where it all began — with the dedicated adoration of our butlers and copious amounts of champagne.” — Kirsha Kaechele, MONA curator.
What else to know: In its decision, the Supreme Court ruled the tribunal mischaracterised what the lounge intended to achieve and erred by claiming it only addressed past disadvantage experienced by women.
The Ladies Lounge at MONA in Hobart had a green theme and featured male butlers serving women, but it was deemed to be unlawful after a tribunal found it “deliberately and overtly discriminates for artistic purpose”. Source: AAP / PR IMAGE
Lau’s lawyer argued the lounge’s purpose was solely to reflect on the historical disadvantage.
MONA successfully argued the space tackled present disadvantage, referencing a report highlighting current domestic violence rates and pay disparity.
