Links and info 

Letters of Support:
Climate Minister Dan Jørgensen (DK)
Climate Minister Lars Aagaard (DK)

Exhibition Confirmations

State of Green
ENERGIES2050

Facts sheets about the sculpture

Exhibition

Media Coverage Earlier COPs'.

• COP15
• COP21
• COP23

Contacts:

• Enquiries: Lasse Markus

  aidoh@aidoh.dk

  Whatsapp +45 6170 3083

• Artist: Jens Galschiøt
  Jens@galschiot.com
  Ph+Whatsapp +45 4044 7058
  

• CARE: John Nordbo

  jnordbo@care.dk

  Whatsapp +45 6127 0745

The Sculpture Double Standard

With closed eyes and scales  in  hand,   the Western goddess of justice, Justitia, proclaims:

 I am sitting on the back of a man.

He is sinking under my burden. 

I will do anything to help him. 

Except stepping down from his back..

Description of the sculpture

A bronze sculpture depicting a big woman being carried on the shoulders of a starving man. The woman is Justitia, the Western goddess of justice. She is typically depicted wearing a blindfold, which has come to symbolize that justice ”is blind” and should be carried out impartially. However, this figure of Justitia embodies self-righteousness rather than justice. She is willfully ignorant of the world’s inequalities - reflecting how the wealthy countries are aware of the global imbalances but is reluctant to change its current behaviors.

Double Standard serves as a symbol of the unequal consumption of global resources, highlighting how wealthier nations thrive at the expense of poorer ones while doing very little to alleviate the burden.

Story & Symbolism

The original sculpture was created in 2002 by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt. The artist explains:

“In the sculpture I use the age-old symbols of inequality between rich

(the large well-fed figure) and poor (the starving figure).

In my version it is portrayed as a very large goddess of justice (Justitia)

sitting on the back of a very small and thin person to symbolize the ever present double standard

and hypocrisy. We will do anything to help, unless it is inconvenient for us.”  

COP29

Since the creation in 2002 the sculpture has become known worldwide as a symbol of inequality. By bringing Double Standard to COP29 in Azerbaijan, Galschiøt highlighted the urgent need for ambitious climate goals and financial support for poorer countries’ climate adaptation efforts.

Galschiøt brought 3 sculptures to Baku. They were displayed at pavilions, events and debates and created a lot of attention - especially by developing countries.

The project was made a a collaboration between the artist and CARE Denmark. It enjoyed support from the former and present Danish Climate Ministers (Dan Jørgensen & Lars Aagaard) and recieved some economic support from Slots & Kulturstyrrelsen.