In the Best Interests of the Child
This work centres on terminology found in Family Law. Legal jargon is very different from the everyday vocabulary that most parents use. When teaching children literacy, the focus is on words that are gentle and easily understood. Conflict does not help them, yet the words that decide their future are complex and at times confrontational.
The walls of the installation are covered with litigious terms that are found in documents and court papers related to child custody cases. The experience of being immersed in the legal process can often be intrusive and overwhelming. The terms and phrases used are part of a system that is predicated on money and power, which heightens anxiety for anyone who is unable to afford good legal representation. The language used in the courts and the methods in which these cases are pursued raises questions as to what is truly in the best interests of the child.