Anthropomorphic
Legal Eagle
₹1,35,000
Price in Indian rupees. Available at the exhibition and by enquiry.
Set within the grand architecture of a law library, Legal Eagle explores the widening gap between the ideals of justice and its modern performance.
An eagle, embodying the legal profession, immerses itself in precedent while Lady Justice, distracted by a selfie, weighs a vulnerable mouse litigant against the seductive pull of gold and cash. Her blindfold, once a symbol of impartiality, becomes ambiguous, inviting viewers to question whether justice remains blind or has become selectively sighted.
The mouse’s tail creeps towards the scales, introducing a visual pun: “Sneaky tales will get caught in the scales.” This playful twist hints that deception, however cleverly concealed, may ultimately betray itself.
The little black bird is looking in, bewildered.
In the distance, framed by a towering arched window, a long queue of mice as litigants waits outside the courthouse gates—a silent reminder of the human cost of delay and a system that feels increasingly remote to those seeking justice.
Rich in symbolism and dark humour, the work examines power, privilege, wealth and the influence of public image over principle. Beneath its whimsical characters lies an uncomfortable question: when justice becomes performative, who truly tips the scales?