‘Lady Justice’ is an autobiographical performance that delves into the conflict between professional obligations and personal fulfilment. The performance centres around a surreal phone conversation between two versions of the same artist, where the artist’s former self, who was once a corporate lawyer (the ‘lawyer’), is called from the future by the artist as she exists now, after leaving her legal career in pursuit of her dream of becoming an artist (the ‘artist’). This interaction serves as a narrative device that reflects the artist's exploration of her own identity and life choices.
In the exchange, the lawyer confronts the artist with the disillusionment of her current life, highlighting the sacrifices she made, including a recent abortion, for a career that feels hollow and restrictive. The dialogue itself is meta-textual, with the artist acknowledging the performance aspect by referring to the lawyer as performer in the exhibition in which ‘Lady Justice’ is taking place. The artist urges her former self to abandon her conventional path and follow her to one of her performances in the future (‘Lady Justice’), symbolized by the lawyer cutting off her business attire, and embrace a more liberated, creative existence. This act of transformation is not just literal but metaphorical, as it represents a shedding of societal expectations and a rebirth into an artistic identity. The performance culminates with the artist’s former self being invited to dance, serving not only as a liberation from her old life but also as a live, spontaneous act of creation—a meta-commentary on the artistic process itself.
By weaving together elements of autobiographical reflection and speculative fiction, ‘Lady Justice’ becomes a commentary on the artist's journey towards self-discovery and authenticity. The piece thus serves as both a narrative and a meta-narrative, exploring the duality of self and the performative nature of identity. The self-referential elements invite the audience to consider the layers of performance in everyday life and the courage it takes to step into an unknown future, embracing one's true passions and desires.
For the purposes of the Arte Laguna Prize Exhibition, the performance can be shortened to 10 minutes.
