Why these world-famous Picasso paintings were hung in the women’s restrooms at MONA after a court ruled to allow men to enter the women-only exhibition

By Lisa Edser and Padraig Collins for Daily Mail Australia

04:50 June 25, 2024, updated 04:50 June 25, 2024

World-famous works of art by Picasso were hung in the women’s restrooms after a court ruled that men should be allowed to enter an exhibition reserved for women only.

The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, Tasmania, had exhibited the artworks in the Ladies Lounge, an exhibition and area for women only.

The space was created by artist Kirsha Kaechele, wife of MONA’s billionaire owner David Walsh, and opened in 2020.

The lounge was intended only for women and was intended to be an artistic statement against the historical exclusion of women from public access, although Ms. Kaechele also wanted to enable men to have a similar experience.

The artist said that “the rejection of men is a very important part of the artwork” and that the ladies’ lounge is “exciting, fun, thrilling… cheeky.”

But in April, the Tasmania Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) ruled that the Ladies Lounge was discriminatory after a man filed a complaint.

Jason Lau said when he visited MONA in 2023, he was not told he was not allowed to enter the women-only exhibition.

TASCAT vice-chairman Richard Grueber said in his judgment that he was “not convinced that the discrimination experienced by Mr Lau was aimed at promoting equal opportunities for women”.

Mr Grueber gave the museum 28 days to allow men access to the exhibition – but the Ladies Lounge has been closed since then.

On Monday, Ms. Kaechele posted a video on her Instagram account showing some of the artwork that was originally in the Ladies Lounge and now adorns the walls in the restroom stalls.

“A new exhibition at Mona. For ladies only…” she wrote.

(We used to have no ladies’ toilets at the Mona, they were all unisex. But then the Ladies Lounge had to close due to a man’s complaint. And I just didn’t know what to do with all the Picassos…).

“We will be reopening the lounge as a church/school/boutique glamping accommodation/facility/etc under Section 26 of the Anti-Discrimination Act, but in the meantime, have fun! (Ladies).”

Section 26 of Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 allows a person to discriminate against another in a way that “promotes equality of opportunity for a group of people who are disadvantaged or have special needs because of a prescribed characteristic”.

Mr Lau argued against this legal defence of the Ladies Lounge, saying Section 26 was “designed to enable positive discrimination, not negative discrimination”.

“This exhibition is obviously aimed at rejecting all men… I would argue that it is not in the spirit of Section 26,” he said.

Following the announcement, the artist’s supporters agreed to move the Picassos to the toilets.

“Awesome. I absolutely love your work,” wrote one.

“I love his work and thank you for making art accessible to us in this way,” wrote another.

Ms Kaechele announced on 7 May that the museum would appeal TASCAT’s decision to the Supreme Court.

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