Isaac Julien: Ten Thousand Waves

Isaac Julien, originally from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia and a graduate of Saint Martin’s School of Art in London, United Kingdom, was one of the leaders of a movement of English filmmakers in the mid-1980s that used video as an activist medium, a counter-discourse tool in Margaret Thatcher’s England. The Sankofa Film and Video Collective was co-founded by Julien in 1983 and was the exact contemporary of the Black Audio Film Collective, notably comprising artist John Akomfrah. Introducing the perspectives of the Black and Asian diasporas into the cultural debate in England, these artists featured themes explored in cultural studies by social theorists like Stuart Hall. Julien’s 1984 documentary Territories explored the Notting Hill Carnival as a place of experiences related to race, class, and sexuality. In addition to these themes, which would appear regularly in his work, the director became known for his use of various filmed and musical sources that he recycled and remixed to create multifaceted discourse. Music is a key catalyst for reflection in Julien’s creations, like in his 1991 feature film Young Soul Rebels, awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, which examined issues of gender and race through the lens of late-1970s underground music culture.

This presentation lives within the framework of the “Hors-les-murs” programme of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, showcasing holdings of the Collection at the Espaces Louis Vuitton in Tokyo, Munich, Venice, Beijing, Seoul and Osaka, thus following the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s mission to mount international projects and reach a broader global audience.

VENUE: ESPACE LOUIS VUITTON OSAKA (Midosuji 5F 2-8-16, Shinsaibashi-suji)
HOURS: 12:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m.
CONTACT: +81 3 3515 0855