Exhibition spaces live a contradictory existence. Museums often represent hegemonic norms and/or state policy. At the same time, state-funded spaces can be subverted through protest or other interventions which fundamentally challenge a state’s self-image. Smaller, independent exhibits can also disrupt the state’s self-narrative. Such interventions do not speak solely to the ‘reason’ and ‘logic’ of exhibits, but evoke strong emotional responses through atmosphere.
Law contributes to regulating such spaces, influencing their practices of representation. Exhibits depict moments steeped in law, and accordingly depict – implicitly or explicitly – law itself. Law is also a form of storytelling, depicting the state’s relationship between its citizenry and the world, as well as relationships between citizens. This conference examines both how exhibition sites represent law, and how they exist as spaces in conversation with the ‘stories’ law tells. The conference specifically focuses on how such spaces complicate law’s narratives through affect and art.