In early May 2022, a draft opinion authored by Supreme Court Justice Alito was leaked and published by Politico. The draft opinion, if ratified, would overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision providing access to abortions. The draft sent shockwaves throughout the country.
Whose Right to Choose? is a visual commentary on women’s reproductive rights in a time of uncertainty. The 38 inch long necklace presents a contrast between the beauty of fertility and obstructions to reproductive freedom. Freshwater pearls are signifiers for human ova and a single Biwa pearl represents fertilization and fetal development. These elegant elements are positioned in opposition to a heavily oxidized hand-fabricated security chain and padlock.