THIS MONTH Tate Britain will host a landmark exhibition dedicated to Sir Isaac Julien, a British artist and filmmaker known for his compelling, politically-charged films and video installations.
This retrospective will trace the evolution of Julien’s work over four decades, from the 1980s to the present day, showcasing his fiercely experimental approach to art-making.
The exhibition will feature a range of Julien’s key works, from his early films made as a member of the Sankofa Film and Video Collective, to his later multi-screen installations that draw on a wide range of artistic disciplines.
Among the works on display will be Julien’s first film, Who Killed Colin Roach? (1983), which responds to social unrest following the death of a young man in police custody.
Other notable works include Looking for Langston (1989), a film exploring Black queer desire during the Harlem Renaissance, and the critically-acclaimed ten-screen film installation Lessons of the Hour (2019), which offers a portrait of the life and times of Frederick Douglass.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also be able to see how Julien incorporates dance, photography, music, theatre, painting, and sculpture into his work, blurring the lines between different artistic disciplines.
In particular, the exhibition will highlight two of Julien’s notable works: Western Union: Small Boats (2007), which uses dance to reflect on African migration histories and trauma, and Lina Bo Bardi – A Marvellous Entanglement (2019), a film exploring the legacy of the visionary modernist architect and designer.
One of the exhibition’s main draws will be the European premiere of Julien’s latest film, Once Again…(Statues Never Die) (2022), which examines the relationship between US collector Albert C. Barnes and cultural critic Alain Locke, and their impact on African American activism and education.
Overall, the exhibition promises to be a comprehensive exploration of one of the most important artists and filmmakers working today.
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