Isaac Julien

About the Exhibition

This exhibition will consist of Isaac Julien's most recent video installation, The Long Road to Mazatlan, as well as a suite of photographs that probe issues of masculinity and desire in relation to the mythologies of the West including the iconic figure of the cowboy and the American landscape. Julien, who lives and works in London, has continued to explore the complexities of identity, sexuality, and fantasy, drawing from various sources such as photography, film, dance, music, painting, sculpture, and cultural theory. Best known for his work in cinema including the landmark documentary drama Looking for Langston (1989) and Frantz Fanon: Black Skin, White Mask (1996), he has shown internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions including: the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki, the Center d'Art Contemporain Geneva, and the Johannesburg Biennale. The Long Road to Mazatlan was completed last year during his residency at ArtPace, A Foundation for Contemporary Art in San Antonio, Texas.

The Long Road to Mazatlan was originally co-commissioned by and subsequently shown at ArtPace and Grand Arts, Kansas City, Missouri. Isaac Julien is organized by MCA Curatorial Assistant Sylvia Chivaratanond.