Women only
The exhibition, around which much controversy arose, was to show historical misogyny. The way to show her was to ban men. Ladies Lounge – due to the fact that that's what the exhibition is called – was closed in May of that year after a man won a case for discrimination.
Representing himself in the case, the man cited a violation of the state anti-discrimination law by the museum. He argued that he and another ticket holders, who do not identify themselves as women, were not granted "fair access to goods and services".
The museum explained that the feeling of rejection that he felt the reason was part of a work of art, which should not be seen as a loss. However, the court rejected this position, indicating that women do not presently experience the same degree of exclusion from public space as in the past.
Judge Marshall estimated that the exhibition "provides a uncommon chance for women to see what it's like to be privileged alternatively than injured."
It's a small like in Barb.
Kirsha Kaechele, the author of the exhibition, considered the court's decision to be a “great victory”. The Ladies Lounge exhibition, characterized by luxury and exclusivity, is another provocative task of the Museum of Old and fresh Art.
Kaechele, as she claims, created space to draw attention to the historical exclusion of women in Australia, recalling examples specified as the ban on women drinking alcohol in bars that were in force until 1965. She described the exhibition as a “inverted universe”, giving women a break from male dominance in society.
The analysed museum is known for its provocative projects, and the luxurious and lavish Ladies Lounge space, opened in 2020 and containing any of the most valuable works of the museum, perfectly fits this trend.
