Red Shoes Australia: when public art meets forensic science and becomes a movement for change

Abstract

ABSTRACT Public art has long been recognized as a powerful medium for social and cultural expression, taking various forms and sizes across different settings. Generally designed for installation in public places, public art aims to engage the public by fostering participation, interaction, and critical thinking. One notable example is ‘Red Shoes Australia’, an adaptation of ‘Los Zapatos Rojos’ by Mexican artist Elina Chauvet. This installation features hundreds of pairs of red shoes in an iconic Australian public space, serving as a poignant memorial to the victims of domestic, gender, and family violence. First presented in 2022 as part of the Western Australian ‘16 Days in WA: Stop Violence Against Women’ campaign, the event was a collaboration with the Western Australia Museum and continued as an impactful initiative in subsequent years. Beyond its role as an art exhibition, the event seeks to emphasize the impact of forensic research and practice in combating gender-based violence and empowering victims with a scientific voice against their perpetrators. The confluence of art, and forensics, leveraging ‘The Red Shoes’, underscores that positive change in systems and society is driven by knowledge, education, strategic research, and the development of educational programmes and community services.