Would a mens only exhibition go unchallenged?
Men will be banned from a Muslim exhibit at The Dowse
Men will be banned from watching a video display coming to a Lower Hutt art gallery that shows Muslim women without veils.
The Dowse Art Museum is preparing to host the world premiere of the art installation – despite advice from the Human Rights Commission that not letting men inside could be seen as sexual discrimination.
Men are moved by Air New Zealand when seated next to children travelling alone and now Dowse director Cam McCracken is banning men from an exhibition an Art gallery. Why? Because they are men. Does McCracken live in the twenty-first century? Art exhibitions are not exempt from our right as citizens of New Zealand not to be discriminated against based on our gender. McCracken’s polemic provides free advertising for the on-going propagation of discrimination based on gender.
“I’ve bought into the fact that we take this work on the proviso that no men see it. We respect the artist and the privacy of the women who are portrayed.”
No, what McCracken brought into is discrimination based on gender. McCracken can’t hide behind Islam’s belief system as a justification for discrimination based on gender; we live in a secular state. Quite possibly this is part of a staged Media campaign to maximise exposure for the Gallery?
Shame on you Cam McCracken for choosing to promote discrimination against men what next no men allowed near unattended children in the Dowse?
Discrimination of this type should not be tolerated.
Çhurlish self promotion from an ‘artist’. Ñothing to see folks. Move along.
Comment by Skeptic — Sat 25th August 2012 @ 10:00 pm
This is an issue worth challenging even though any response will inevitably provide more publicity for the artist.
I would also encourage any male artists here to respond with an exhibition that bans women. We’ll see from feminist responses the duplicity of gender politics in NZ. A good way to get your name out there!
Perhaps I will arrange a concert of male songs that women are not allowed to attend.
Comment by Hans Laven — Sun 26th August 2012 @ 11:31 am