The Story Behind Goddess Nemesis
Goddess Nemesis was created for an exhibition at the Weslaco Museum held in conjunction with Will'n in Weslaco's annual theatrical production.
That year's play was Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, a story built around mistaken identity.
So I decided my sculpture should play along.
When people first saw her, nearly everyone came to the same conclusion:
Lady Justice.
Perfect.
My own little comedy of errors was working.
But eventually I had to confess.
They were mistaken.
The figure standing before them was Goddess Nemesis.
The confusion was intentional. Themis is associated in Greek mythology with divine law and order, while Nemesis represents retribution and the restoration of balance when it has been disturbed.
Both can easily inhabit the visual language we associate with justice. Nemesis herself has been depicted with attributes including the sword and balance, and later artists also portrayed her with wings.
Those wings became my clue.
The sword and scales lead you toward one conclusion.
The wings reveal another.
Nemesis is not simply standing there representing justice.
She has come to deliver the consequences.
And if you mistook her for someone else...
Well...
That was the point.
~ Enrique Del Angel
Industrial Composition & Artistry
Goddess Nemesis is a three-dimensional metal sculpture depicting the mythological figure with outstretched wings, a sword, and scales.
The composition intentionally uses familiar symbols of justice to encourage the mistaken identity that became part of the sculpture's connection to The Comedy of Errors.
Her extended wings distinguish the figure visually while creating a strong horizontal presence across the composition. The sword and scales reinforce the themes of balance, consequence, and retribution associated with Nemesis.
The figure stands upon a pedestal-style base and is finished with clearcoat to preserve the character and variation of the metal.
Artwork Details
Artist: Enrique Del Angel
Title: Goddess Nemesis
Year: [Year]
Medium: Metal sculpture
Materials: [Actual components to be added]
Finish: Clearcoat
Dimensions: 18" H × 4" W × 18" D
One-of-a-Kind Original Sculpture
