Isaac Julien’s twin-screen installation Vagabondia 2000 was filmed in the reverberant setting of London’s Sir John Soane’s Museum. Colliding the disciplined eye of the curator/collector with the mercurial spirit of choreography, its puckish animation of this unique space parallels Julien’s own elliptical investigations of art history. Commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella in 2000, Julien reflects on Vagabondia and on the projects place in his practice, which has grown significantly over the last decade to interrogate art, cinema, colonialism and the global movements of people throughout history. Coinciding with major solo exhibitions in London and New York, and with RIOT, a new monographic publication on Julien’s work published by MoMA, this event takes place in conjunction with Film and Video Umbrella’s anniversary programme, 25 Frames.
Following the screening, Isaac Julien discusses his work, from Vagabondia to his new exhibition PLAYTIME at Victoria Miro, together with Dr. Sarah Thornton, author of Seven Days in the Art World:
