Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has emerged victorious in a recent legal battle in the state’s supreme court, allowing it to continue barring men from entering an exhibit known as the Ladies Lounge. The exhibit had been closed in April after a complaint was filed by a Sydney man, alleging gender discrimination as he was denied entry to the female-only space. However, the supreme court found that the Ladies Lounge qualified for an exemption from the state’s anti-discrimination act, as it was designed to promote equal opportunity for women who are disadvantaged or have a special need.
Justice Shane Marshall explained in the decision that the Ladies Lounge aimed to highlight the lack of equal opportunity prevailing in society, giving women a rare glimpse of being advantaged rather than disadvantaged by excluding men. The court criticized the prior tribunal’s decision and sent the case back to be reconsidered.
The artist behind the installation, Kirsha Kaechele, celebrated the court ruling as a triumph for women and the museum. Mona’s lawyer successfully argued that the Ladies Lounge was an artwork challenging inequality for women in contemporary spaces. The opposing lawyer contended that the exhibit merely reflected historical disadvantage and thus could not promote equal opportunity. However, the court sided with Mona’s argument that women continue to face present-day disadvantages.
Kaechele expressed gratitude for the international attention the case brought, prompting people worldwide to reflect on women’s experiences and social structures. The artist emphasized the importance of challenging perspectives and refining understanding amid such discussions. Mona will wait for further instructions from the tribunal before reopening the Ladies Lounge.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
