*The Lady of the Lake (Lessons of the Hour)* 2019
Framed photograph on gloss inkjet paper mounted on aluminium
Framed: 160 x 213.3 cm (63 x 84 in)
© Isaac Julien
Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro

Written by Max Wiener

Copy Edited by Kee'nan Haggen

Photo Edited by Athena Abdien

Using a variety of mediums, world-renowned artist Issac Julien uses the space of the Tate Gallery to explore themes of contemporary society and deconstruct artistic boundaries.

For the first time in the United Kingdom, Issac Julien’s work, spanning the last forty years, will be put on grand display in What Freedom is To Me. His extensive and immersive work invites you into a completely different world, unlike anything we’ve seen. The exhibition presents films and large-scale works together for viewing. Julien’s show is scheduled to run until August 20.

Installation view, *Looking for Langston*, Tate Britain, 2023
Photo: Jack Hems
© Isaac Julien
Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro

Julien first became significant when he released his masterpiece poetic documentary, Looking for Langston, in 1989; the film is included in this series. Julien considers it a “meditation” on the iconic poet, whose work during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s helped shape the then-contemporary cultural view of Black America. Julien said of his film, “I'm interested in poetry. And in my work, it's a poetic quest for a language to express experiences which are part of the everyday experience of people like myself."

*O que é um museu? / What is a Museum? (Lina Bo Bardi - A Marvellous Entanglement)* 2019
Endura Ultra photograph facemounted
180 x 240 x 7.5 cm (70 7/8 x 94 1/2 x 3 in)
© Isaac Julien
Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro

Julien touches this sensitive issue with an artist’s touch, covering it with a unique voice that amplifies the voices commonly unheard. As time would tell, it also inspired Julien, who took the wordsmith's work and shaped it into a viewing experience examining the “in-between-the-lines” aspects of Hughes’ work, precisely the queer elements. It became a stepping stone to Julien’s much larger body of work exploring Black identity and diaspora, which he covers with a delicate intensity.

Installation view, *Once Again…(Statues Never Die)*, Tate Britain, 2023
Photo: Jack Hems
© Isaac Julien
Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro

Using work spanning the last forty years is vital to Julien’s message, highlighting the intrinsically important historical messages ever-present in his work. One of the most profound sets of stills from the entire anthology is the presence of Black men and women in colonial dress, directly addressing the themes of diaspora. He presents these images as almost a social commentary, showing how the Black image in America has continually been thwarted and rooted in insecurity; it’s incredibly profound when viewed within the space. By showing colonial dress, it’s almost a metaphor for the far-reaching scope of Julien’s work, showing how this issue has been a struggle not just for the past forty years but for generations of Black families. Not only does he want this viewing experience to move you, but he wants you to change as you move through his installation. He wants your perception and worldview to be argued and molded.

Installation view, *Once Again... (Statues Never Die)*, Barnes Foundation, 2022 Photo: Henrik Kam
© Barnes Foundation
Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro

Aside from film, Julien also uses elements of photography, dance, and music to highlight the overarching themes of his work. This is not just an art installation but a celebration of culture, unlike any gallery presentation worldwide. Each nook and cranny prove that What Freedom is To Me is a perfect title. It highlights every facet of Julien’s life worth sharing, and placing yourself within his world is an experience unlike any other.

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