“For the columns of the Portalis building, Jean-Marc dos-Santos, alias Alto, chose to explore the powerful symbolism of freedom and justice using motifs and two distinct colours. The golds of justice covering the pillars are superimposed with motifs of a blue hue that echoes freedom. This echo is then repeated by the fourteen patterns attributed to the columns, each of which represents a being that enjoys a certain freedom of movement: rocks, pebbles, sand, wood, water, leaves, land, connections, grass, animals, branches, plants, earth and insects. The remaining two columns bring all these motifs together, adding gravity to the task incumbent to the venue’s staff. The intertwined colours of gold – which in this work evokes justice – and blue – freedom – remind us of the possible consequences of our actions, but at the same time underline the importance of justice in maintaining individual freedom”.*

*Julien Lucchini