Ruby City, the Linda Pace Foundation’s arts complex on Camp Street in Southtown, has mounted an exhibition of works by renowned filmmaker and installation artist, Isaac Julien. The show, Isaac Julien – Looking for Langston opens on February 28.
Julien was born in London where he still resides. He came to prominence in the 1980s as a founding member of the member of the Sankofa Film/Video Collective which was dedicated to developing an independent black film culture in the areas of production, exhibition and audience.
Isaac Julien
Linda Pace, who died in 2007, was an avid supporter of Julien’s art work having acquired over fifty works for her permanent collection. Today, the Linda Pace Foundation possess the largest collection of Julien’s work.
In announcing the show, a Ruby City press release explains, “Much of Julien’s work explores issues of black and queer identities. Addressing themes such as institutionalized racism, transcultural identity and experiences of cultural displacement, Julien’s work explores many of the social and economic issues facing contemporary global society.”
The exhibition’s central set-piece is Julien’s 1989 documentary-drama Looking for Langston “a lyrical exploration – and re-creation – of the private world of poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes and his fellow black artists from the Harlem Renaissance.”
The film has become a hallmark of New Queer Cinema and been taught widely in North American universities, colleges and art schools for nearly 30 years.
Besides, Looking for Langstson, Julien has created almost 20 other films including Young Soul Rebels (1991), Frantz Fanon: Black Skin, White Mask (1996) and BaadAsssss Cinema (2002).
Film-Noir Angels by Issac Julien
Last June, the Linda Pace Foundation acquired two large scale photographs from Looking For Langston. The production stills, Film-Noir Angels and Masquerade No. 3 provide examples of the dreamlike vision Julien’s film creates in portraying poet Langston Hughes as a Harlem Renaissance gay icon.
“During his 1999 Artpace residency [in San Antonio], he wowed Texas with The Long Road to Mazátlan, which has now screened internationally and was the centerpiece of his Turner Prize nomination in 2000 and at Documenta 11 he took audiences by storm with Paradise/Omeros,” according to a post about Julien on the Artpace website.
“Isaac Julien – Looking for Langston,” Studio at Ruby City , 111 Camp Street. Opening reception Thursday, February 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Show continues through August 11. Gallery hours: Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment. info@rubycity.org. 210.227.8400
