Art, Law, Justice Project

This piece of interdisciplinary legal scholarship was just the beginning of an art, law, justice project that has expanded exponentially and organically. The project went on to include artist Travis De Vries, who created a digital artwork that responds to the themes of the journal article; composer and percussionist Adam Manning who created a sonic response to Travis’ artwork and the underpinning research; Rewa Wright who advised on social design issues in the context of an Art Law Justice Exhibition of the research; and over 45 Intellectual Property Law students from the University of Newcastle, who participated in qualitative research after studying the academic paper and Travis’ art as part of a Critical Perspectives on Copyright Module in semester 1, 2022. An article authored by myself, Sarah, Nik, Adam and Rewa that discusses some of the key findings from the research with the university students was published in Nuart Journal in June 2023.

The project presents a multi-facetted, cross-cultural account of art, law, and justice, from multiple perspectives. It traverses pressing social justice issues; the way in which law can symbolically devalue racial interests as against the rights of creators in public spaces; and the need for cultural responsiveness in legal education. Through the contributions of Travis, Adam and Rewa, the project also, most importantly, presents a world of First Nations sovereignty and the importance of conversation in confronting and moving through colonial legacies.