Narratives of Law in the Exhibition Space

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.

Conference convenor:
Dr Anne Neylon, University of Liverpool

Speakers across the two-day conference include:

Prof Vanessa Munro, University of Warwick

Prof Linda Mulcahy, University of Oxford

Dr Lucy Finchett-Maddock, Bangor University

Dr Sarah Keenan, Birkbeck, University of London

Prof Illan Wall, University of Warwick

Dr Nadine El-Enany, Birkbeck, University of London

Dr Stacy Douglas, University of Ottawa

Dr Richard Benjamin, University Liverpool/International Slavery Museum

Dr Christine Schwobel-Patel, University of Warwick

Dr Jessie Hohmann, University of Technology Sydney

Dr Anna Carline, University of Liverpool

Dr Tina Sikka, Newcastle University

Prof Lesley McMillan, Glasgow Caledonian University

Please download programme here

Funded by DSIT

If you have any questions about this event please refer to our events FAQs or email [email protected]

Image: Polly Thomas/Getty Images.