The Justice of Visual Art
Creative State-Building in Times of Political Transition

Drawing on novel case studies, this book provides the first substantive theoretical framework for understanding transitional justice and visual art.

Eliza Garnsey (Author)

9781108714518, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 8 April 2021

248 pages, 40 b/w illus.
24.3 x 16.8 x 1.4 cm, 0.44 kg

'A beautifully curated book concerned with the need to better understand the relationship between art and justice in times of transition.' BISA L.H.M. Ling Outstanding First Book Prize committee, awarding an Honourable Mention.

In the aftermath of mass conflict how is it possible to address violent and traumatic pasts, reconcile divided nations, and strengthen state institutions? This study explores the connections between transitional justice and visual art in order to answer that question. Garnsey argues that art can engage and shape ideas of justice. Art can be an inquiry into, and an alternative experience of, justice. Art embeds justice on different political levels - both local and global. Art becomes a radical form of political participation in times of transition. Arising out of extensive fieldwork at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the South Africa Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which included 130 interviews with key decision makers, the book provides the first substantive theoretical framework for understanding transitional justice and visual art, and develops novel conceptions of visual jurisprudence and cultural diplomacy as forms of transitional justice.

1. Introduction
2. Art and justice in times of transition
Part I. Recognising Transitional Justice in the Nation State: 3. From prison to court
4. Shaping 'legal' space
5. The art of recognition
6. The visual jurisprudence of transition
Part II. Representing Transitional Justice on the Global Stage: 7. From banned to embraced
8. Mapping political art-scapes
9. The art of representation
10. The cultural diplomacy of Imaginary Fact
11. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: International organisations & institutions [LBBU], International human rights law [LBBR], International law [LB], Jurisprudence & general issues [LA], Law [L], Human rights [JPVH], International relations [JPS]