Lady Justice

Single channel film installation with sound, 6.48 mins. Concept/ direction by Elizabeth Kwant, performance by Navya Sah. Produced as part of the artists residency “What to do with difference?” Hosted by Art for Change, New Delhi India (2020)

Lady justice explores gender based issues - female infanticide and violence against women - in a contemporary Indian context. These issues are given voice through the universal image of Lady Justice, who is depicted blindfolded - holding a sword in one hand and a set of weighing scales in the other. In collaboration with Indian performance artist Navya Sah the film documents a performance on the rooftops of New Delhi (2020). The rootops being both a public male dominated space and a female space where women hang out their clothes and relax. Dressed in a white Indian Saree, Lady Justice watches over the city. Justice is represented through the weighing scales filled with pink rose petals. The choice of film as a time based medium allows the viewer to experience the burden/ weight of justice as the performance progresses - from the classic image of strength - to one straining to uphold justice, and eventually experiencing its collapse.

How long can she hold the scales?