In April, Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) was ordered by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to allow men to enter its women-only Ladies Lounge, after a male visitor, Jason Lau, filed a complaint based on anti-discrimination claims.
The Ladies Lounge is a project and artwork of Kirsha Kaechele, artist, curator and partner of Mona founder, David Walsh. The space is luxuriously decorated, with two Picasso paintings, dazzling gold objects and male butlers. Its ethos is to create a safe haven inside Mona for women to relax, and serves as commentary on the historical injustice faced by women.