Keeping the Festival in the picture
Paradise Omeros. 2003
Concre ejunqle fever
Isaac Julien explores migration, race and globalisation in his unmissable new
show. Words: Jack Mottram
saac Julien is a filmmaker. documentarian. artist and cultural theorist. His latest work. I’ui'ur/r'se ()iriems.
installed at lidinburgh (‘ollege ot‘ Art as part of
Black Bur -- a show examining the intersection of film
and visual art brings together the various strands of
Julien‘s practice. It draws on the themes of race and sexuality that nrn through his work. from 1991's I’nrmg Soul Rebels to last year's Bruit/tisssss ( 'i'nemu.
With roots in Derek \Valcott‘s epic poern ()mems. Julien's work traces a post-war migration from the (‘aribbean to Britain. He was born in Britain. bttt he has drawn on the experience of his parents. who immigrated here. and also considers the matter of globalisation. ‘There is an interesting corollary between that time and the fact that certain bodies are not now allowed that sort of movement.’ he says. ‘These things are being set up now: l'ortress liurope. a demarcation between the borders. The piece is about a moment when movement is the desire. the economic imperative. We take this part of British history. this post-war migration. the redet'inement of certain populations. and we try to personalise it in the piece.”
This personal journey is represented in the form of
Achilles. He tIees unseen dangers in St Lucia. only to find unforeseen dangers in his new home: prejudice and the vagaries of the British climate. He is guided along the way by wise men who quote the memorable meditation on love and hate from Night oft/re Hunter.
‘I'M SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO TRANSVERSE, TO TRANSGRESS ACROSS THOSE BOUNDARIES'
‘\\'hen the character comes to Iingland. he finds this concrete jungle.’ Julien says. ‘So it begins in one jungle er the plantation in the ('aribbean -- and ends in this other sort of jungle. The narrative is a familiar one. btrt it‘s really all in the juxtaposition.‘
Originally a three-screen projection. I’ll/'(u/lse ()mt'rm comes to Iidinburgh in a single screen version. This. rather neatly. returns tts to Julien‘s polymath practice. On three screens. the work is driven by its unconventional structure. The narrative is split across three planes. steering the story with juxtaposition. collapsing space and time. and examining cinematic practice almost by dint ol the fact that it cannot be show it in the cinema. .-\s a single-screen work. much ot~ this is lost. and the work
traditional cinema. yet it is to be shown in a gallery space.
‘I’m someone who gladly swims across all those currents.‘ says Julien. ‘Someone who tries to transverse. to transgrcss across those boundaries. British cinema is interested in defining the type of aesthetic cinematic experience that we should have. And that is something I have never been interested in. This question of genre leads to a very unirnaginative. very mundane type of cinema. I place mysell outside that argument.’
Isaac Julien shows work as part of Black Box at Edinburgh College of Art, Fri 1 Aug-Sun 7 Sep.
moves closer to the strictures oI'
hit * FESTIVAL ART
Best exhibitions this week
I After Image Four seminal female photographers are brought together: Cindy Sherman, Ana Mendieta. Francesca Woodman and Simryn Gill. See feature. Fruitmarket Gallery, 225 2383. 2 Aug—27 Sep. free.
I Craigie Aitchlaon From still life and portraiture studies to crucifixions and childhood memories. new paintings by Edinburgh-born Craigie Aitchison in his first show in the city for 30 years. See preview. lng/eby Gallery, 556 4441, 1 Aug—13 Sep, free.
I Monet: The Seine and the Sea - Vétheull and Normandy 1878-1883 The eagerly anticipated unveiling of around 90 paintings by French impressionist. Claude Monet. created during 1878-1883 and housed in the newly restored and refurbished RSA building. Royal Scottish Academy, 624 6200, 6 Aug-26 Oct, £8. 50 (£5. 50); family ticket £20; under 123 free.
I Black Box Isaac Julien, Jane and Louise Wilson, Malerie Marder and Francesco Vezzoli present film installation works in this collaboration between Edinburgh College of Art and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. See preview. Edinburgh College of Art, 221 6000, 1 Aug-7 Sep. free.
I David Sherry The performance and video artist presents new work, featuring the bluntly titled Sun '3 Fucked. which reveals how the sun has become unsightly and haggard. Collective Gallery, 220 1260, until 7 Sep, free.
I Jon Schueler: To the North The first British retrospective of the work of the American painter. comprising abstract expressionist paintings created in New York during the 505. and works inspired by the landscape of Mallaig, his adopted home from the 703. See review. City Art Centre, 529 3993, until 27 Sep, free.
' A .7, -. THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 75