The Asian Art Institutum, together with The Arts House, Singapore present Justice for All, an immersive, site-specific installation by Yinka Shonibare CBE. The exhibition, curated by Dr Zehra Jumabhoy, Courtauld Institute of Art, London, coincides with Singapore Art Week and the Singapore Biennale 2020.
Shonibare’s monumental sculptural installation re-configures British sculptor F.W. Pomeroy’s Lady Justice (1905-1906), which stands upon the dome of London’s imposing Central Criminal Court, The Old Bailey. Instead of her habitual golden garb, Shonibare’s Singaporean sculpture is depicted wearing a brightly patterned, ankle-length garment, apparently fashioned from ‘African’ batik. With both hands outstretched, Lady Justice wields a sword in her right hand and balances the scales of justice in her left. In place of a head, she sports a hand-painted globe, featuring a map of the world. Shonibare’s oeuvre investigates notions of imperialist authority and power.
Discussing the work with Dr Jumabhoy, Shonibare explains, “I was thinking about the idea of justice: Singapore itself is a very multi-cultural place. And I wanted a Justice figure that would be there to serve a wide range of the population; the different types of people in Singapore”. Seducing us with its colour and beauty, Shonibare re-interprets Lady Justice for an interior setting, whilst retaining the dramatic impact of the original, iconic public sculpture.