By Helen Boone
Curator, conceptual artist, and now performance artist, Kirsha Kaechele has turned an Australian museum exhibit into an international debate surrounding gender inequality. The Museum of Old and New Art’s (“MONA”) “Ladies Lounge,” a section of the museum only available to people who identify as women, is at the center of a discrimination lawsuit and a forgery controversy. At the intersection of art and law, this installation work has evolved into an ongoing performance piece, staged in both the museum and the courtroom.
The Space
Behind sweeping velvet curtains lies an exclusive sanctuary known as the “Ladies Lounge.” This opulent space, unveiled in 2020, invited female patrons into a realm of old-world elegance fused with contemporary flair.[1] Filled with emerald velvet and illuminated by a Venetian Murano chandelier, the lounge featured a curated selection of masterpieces that spanned continents and centuries — Pablo Picasso and Sidney Nolan alongside a collection of Pacific Island ceremonial spears and rare mid-century ceramics.[2] Upon entry, women were greeted by a concierge who set the stage for the opulent and provocative experience, but most importantly, made sure no men were allowed to enter.[3]
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