Artwork by Picasso is exhibited in a museum's women's restroom, explained below.
Here's the paraphrased text:
Initially, three artworks by Pablo Picasso - some canvas paintings and a sketch - were showcased in Kirsha Kaechele's "Lounge for the Gals" exhibit, hosted at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) back in December 2020, exclusively for female visitors.
This experiential art installation was touted by the museum as an extravagant setting where ladies could partake in exquisite snacks, fancy drinks, and other feminine indulgences, all served by a male servant in a plush room bedecked with green velvet curtains.
However, MONA was instructed to cease denying entry to those who don't identify as women by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in April 2021, since the show contravened Australia's 1998 Anti-Discrimination Act.
Kaechele shared with the tribunal that keeping men out of the secretive room was, in fact, part of the exhibit artwork, meant to give them a taste of the exclusion and prejudice many women have faced throughout history.
Now, the Picasso artworks have been relocated to a newly refurbished restroom equipped with a functioning toilet, referred to as "Ladies' Privacy," nestled within the museum.
According to Kaechele, while the "Gals' Lounge" undergoes alterations to comply with the conditions necessary for reopening, she's also been updating certain restrooms within the venue. "A bit of Cubism in the stalls" is what she calls this improvement effort.
On Monday, Kaechele posted on Instagram some pictures and a video of the artworks in their new location and observed that the gendered restroom was a first for the museum.
She invited "all ladies" to come marvel at the refurbished exhibition.
“Gals' Lounge” temporarily closed
Previously, MONA didn't even have female-designated restrooms; they were all unisex. But when the "Gals' Lounge" had to close due to a legal dispute instigated by a gent, Kaechele found herself unsure of what to do with the Picassos...
Jason Lau, a visitor from New South Wales, was refused entry to the "Gals' Lounge" show on April 1, 2023. Lau, who had paid the entry fee of $35 AUD (approximately $23 USD), felt he suffered gender discrimination.
"He was outraged enough about this to submit a complaint with Equal Opportunities Tasmania," read the tribunal's notes.
Following the verdict, Kaechele announced plans to contest the court's decision in Tasmania's Supreme Court and suggested various ways to reincarnate the "Gals' Lounge" concept: looking for legal loopholes under Section 27 of the Anti-Discrimination Act which outlines exceptions where gender discrimination would be permitted. Until then, the lounge remained closed to ensure it wouldn't have to open its doors to men.
Later, Kaechele discussed reopening strategies for "Gals' Lounge," including the possibility of operating it as a church, school, and more, during an interview published on the museum's website.
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In the midst of updating various restrooms within the museum, Kirsha Kaechele has incorporated elements of Cubism into the stalls, adding a unique artistic flair to the women's restrooms.
The exhibition featuring Picasso's artworks now showcases the style and talent of the renowned artist in a new setting, proving that art can indeed be found in unexpected places.
