Alison Saar’s bronze sculpture ‘Embodied’ stands as a powerful reinterpretation of the traditional figure of Lady Justice, located in front of the recently renovated L.A. County Hall of Justice.
Unveiled in 2014, the 12-foot tall statue was commissioned at a time when former L.A. County sheriff Lee Baca expressed his desire for a conventional depiction of Lady Justice, one armed with a sword and blindfolded.
Saar found this traditional representation jarring, considering its associations with violence and inequality within the judicial system.
“The sword… which to me just talked about the violence in the judiciary system… and the scales… they’re monetary scales. It felt to me like if you’ve got money, you’ve got one kind of justice,” Saar remarked.
The blindfold, according to Saar, signified a lack of compassion, making Lady Justice unaware of the personal struggles faced by many.
The site of the statue carries with it a heavy history of injustice.
Positioned to face east toward the L.A. River, the area has been a harrowing backdrop for numerous lynchings between the 1850s and the 1870s, where vague accusations often led to violent mob actions.
Saar reflected on the dark history as she crafted the sculpture, noting that the last documented lynching occurred nearby.
Across the street, the nearly 90-year-old U.S. Court House sits on land that was once a slave market and used California state laws to sell incarcerated Indigenous people into bondage.
The troubled historical backdrop also encompasses the 1940s Sleepy Lagoon case and the wrongful imprisonments associated with it.
As Saar contemplates the weight of these historical events, she aims for ‘Embodied’ to represent the voices and experiences of individuals rather than the faceless institutions associated with the Hall of Justice.
In creating the statue, Saar incorporated words in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese, which residents shared in response to her prompt about justice.
Words such as ‘advocate,’ ‘punishment,’ ‘virtud,’ and ‘kousei’ adorn the statue, showcasing Los Angeles’s diverse community.
“Peace we have, I think, in every language,” Saar explained, underscoring her desire for visitors to connect with the artwork on a personal level.
She hopes those who approach ‘Embodied’ will use their eyes and hands to engage with the piece, as it invites both intellectual and tactile exploration.
The statue’s face blends features from various racial and ethnic backgrounds of the local population, symbolizing the collective struggle for justice.
Notably, a long braid descends from the back of the figure’s head, looping over her right arm, representing the interconnection between law enforcement, the judicial system, and the community.
Saar emphasized that this interconnection is crucial for achieving true justice.
In Saar’s view, public art plays an essential role in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles.
In addition to ‘Embodied,’ she has created various significant public art pieces, including a memorial to Harriet Tubman in Harlem and a sculpture for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Closer to home, her work at the Artesia Transit Center highlights one of L.A. County’s last remaining willow marshes.
“Public art is a really important component of what Los Angeles is,” Saar asserted, citing its accessibility and capacity to provoke reflection among viewers.
By placing art in locations where people gather, Saar believes it encourages individuals to engage with and contemplate the ideas presented through the artwork.
“I think it’s just really important to have art that’s available to everybody,” she concluded, encapsulating her philosophy on the role of public art in community life.
image source from：laist
