Justice 2020

Zoe Hawk's painting, Justice, presents a young woman holding scales in front of classical columns. Hawk's painting offers us a perspective on the scales of justice which is grounded in the modern world. The woman in the painting seems to be both participating in and questioning the pursuit of justice. Her youth and the everyday nature of her clothes imply a call for justice that is embedded in the concerns of daily life. She stands among discarded papers that could represent documents of injustice, or even failed attempts to seek change. This may be why she also holds a protest sign. Hawk’s juxtaposition of an African American woman with the typical symbols of the justice system invites conversations about who has historically been included or excluded in the pursuit of justice. Justice becomes a complex and active pursuit rather than a passive ideal. A personal and deeply felt endeavor in which the scales must be actively balanced.