Male visitor to famous art museum who was denied entry to a ‘ladies’ lounge’ exhibition takes the venue to court

One of Australia’s most famous museums could be forced to close its ‘ladies’ lounge’ after a man was refused entry and taken to court saying it was discriminatory.

Jason Lau said that when he visited the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, Tasmania, he was not told he could not go to the ladies’ lounge.

The ladies’ lounge – exclusively for people who identify as women – is the work of US-born artist Kirsha Kaechele, whose husband is MONA owner David Walsh.

Kaechele said that “the rejection of men is a very important part of the artwork” and that the ladies’ lounge is “stimulating, fun, exciting… naughty.”

In a statement to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where the case was heard on Tuesday, she agreed men are being disadvantaged by being denied access to the lounge.

“I side with Mr. Lau and recognize that his description of the loss is indeed substantial… The ladies’ lounge… contains some of the most precious works of art in the collection.”

Legal commentator Justin Lawrence told the radio 3AW the case is ‘defensible on the grounds that the legislation in Tasmania allows an exception when the discriminatory act is used to highlight other forms of discrimination.

“So essentially the defense is saying, ‘We admit that the basis is discrimination, but what we are doing is highlighting the discrimination that has been imposed on women over the years and that is the purpose of the installation.’

But Mr Lau rejected that defence, saying section 26 of Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 was “intended to authorize positive discrimination and not negative discrimination”.

‘This exhibition is clearly intended to reject all men… I would argue that this is not in the spirit of section 26.’

Mr Lawrence said the case, which was handled by TasCAT vice-president Richard Grueber, hinged on whether the ladies’ lounge was “designed specifically for that purpose, or whether there really is some kind of… a mean undercurrent to it.” .

A large group of women, dressed in navy blue and pearls, attended the hearing to support Mona’s exclusion of men from the women’s lounge.

After the hearing, they danced out of the courtroom to the tune of Robert Palmer’s song Simply Irresistible.

Kaechele told the ABC that ‘the hearing really felt like the art came to life, it was a living part of the work.’

She pointed out that women were not given the right to drink in a public bar in Australia until 1965 and were instead relegated to ladies’ lounges.

“Throughout history, women have seen significantly fewer interiors,” she said. “The power still absolutely lies with men, regardless of what the law says.”

She told Daily Mail Australia that “we need the ladies lounge. A peaceful space for women to retreat to, a sanctuary where they can think clearly and enjoy the pure company of women.”

Kirsha Kaechele said the women’s lounge (pictured) was “all about women drinking champagne, laughing and sitting on a couch.”

The ladies’ lounge of the Museum of Old and New Art (pictured) has been taken to court for refusing to let men in

Kaechele said the “lounge” is an essential space for perspective and a reset from this strange and incoherent world of male domination.

She added that it was mostly about women drinking champagne, laughing and sitting on the couch.”

The only exception to the lounge’s rules is the staff of male butlers “who live to serve women.”

If TasCAT rules the women’s lounge must close or allow men in, Kaechele is prepared to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Tasmania.