Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has emerged victorious in a court appeal allowing them to continue excluding men from the Ladies Lounge exhibit. The exhibit had been closed previously due to a complaint of gender discrimination, but the supreme court ruled in favor of Mona, citing an exemption in the state’s anti-discrimination act. The court found that the Ladies Lounge aimed to promote equal opportunity by highlighting the lack of it for women and challenging prevailing power imbalances.
The artist behind the installation, Kirsha Kaechele, hailed the decision as a triumph for women and the museum, claiming that women are better than men. Mona’s lawyer successfully argued that the exhibit was meant to challenge inequality for women in contemporary society. On the other hand, the lawyer representing the complainant argued that the exhibit was only reflecting on historical disadvantage.
The judge ultimately sided with Mona, acknowledging evidence of ongoing disadvantage for women today. The Ladies Lounge was seen as a means to reverse power imbalances between the sexes by excluding men from the exhibit, which was considered an integral part of the art itself. The case, which garnered international attention, prompted discussions about women’s experiences and social structures. Kaechele expressed gratitude for the journey, highlighting the importance of challenging perspectives and understanding the experiences of women in society.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
