Australia’s MONA reopens controversial women-only art installation, allowing some men to enter for ‘reparations’

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by The Art Newspaper, an editorial partner of CNN Style. The Ladies Lounge, at the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania, Australia, was created five years ago by artist Kirsha Kaechele, the wife of the museum’s founder and owner David Walsh. A tribunal in Tasmania’s capital city Hobart subsequently ruled that the Ladies Lounge must “cease refusing entry to persons who do not identify as ladies.” Kaechele opted to close the Lounge, rather than opening it to men. Despite Ladies Lounge’s pending closure, Kaechele stated it is a “living artwork” and hinted that a pop-up version might yet be seen “anywhere at any time, especially in centers of male power.” In a statement, Kaechele welcomed visitors back to the installation, writing: “Through the court case, the Ladies Lounge has transcended the art museum and come to life. The museum said, in a statement: “Entry for ladies, and exclusion for men, is included as part of the museum entry ticket.” To mark the Lounge’s final days, Kaechele commissioned a new, limited-edition fragrance called “The Verdict.” “The fragrance features an elegant bouquet of fine florals, lush green stems, juicy citrus and a hint of spice,” the MONA statement said.