Kirsha Kaechele

This woman, Kirsha Kaechele, has me on my ass in excitement. But who is she any why are we talking about her?

Kirsha Kaechele is an American contemporary art curator, artist and practitioner of sustainable building design. So far, she has founded the KKProjects and the Life is Art Foundation. Inside of the MONA, Museum of Old and New Art, Kirsha Kaechele created The Ladies Lounge. Inside the Ladies Lounge, women are invited for high tea and high-society hobnobbing in a sophisticated and artistic location. The space is gorgeous, and of course reserved to women only. When creating the space, Kirsha Kaechele stated that she wanted men to feel rejection, by being refused access to the Lounge. Which is completely understandable, women have been refused entry to many places throughout history, this concept that she created is an opportunity to share the pain and anger that women have felt since the dawn of time.

Though of course, it had to come to an end. A man tried to visit the exhibition in April of 2023, but was denied entry. Therefore, he lodged a complaint against Kirsha Kaechele, saying that the museum was violating an anti-discrimination act. So the matter was brought to court.

Kirsha Kaechele showed up to court with 25 other women supporters, all dressed in matching navy blue suits and stockings. Without making a word, the women performed synchronized choreographed movements. While some found it completely disrespectful, I found it amazing. During the hearing, Kaechele argued that the discriminatory nature of the Lounge was the point. That the Lounge was inspired by old Australian pubs, which until 1965 were barred for women. The tribunal ruling was that the museum had to allow all genders to access the exhibition. After the ruling, when asked what she was going to do, she responded that the Ladies Lounge will now operate as a Ladies Room. And that is exactly what she did. Now, behind the doors of the ladies room, you can find a copy-cat Picasso that Kirsha Kaechele painted herself, along with other fine pieces of art. Not only did she leave the court room with a plan, she knew this would be the outcome. She even followed up with an interview where she called the man who filed the complaint, ‘cute’, saying she was honoured to be courted by him. Her obvious humour and feminism is a sight for sore eyes, and a model to look up to and follow.

All my love.