Lessons of the Hour at the Royal Academy

Isaac Julien’s Lessons of the Hour—Frederick Douglass, a breathtaking meditation on the great 19th-century abolitionist, joins other works by Yinka Shonibare, Hew Locke, Sonia Boyce and more as part of the Royal Academy of Art's exhibition, Entangled Pasts.

Here installed in its single-screen iteration, Julien’s film collapses time and space, alternating between contemplative, poetic sequences reflecting Douglass’s long life and travels, and moments of passionate political oratory. In Lessons, Julien has created a profoundly powerful, resonating art experience that brings Douglass thrillingly to life, making clear the importance of his legacy and the continuing relevance of his political voice and moral vision.

Lessons of the Hour at the Royal Academy of Art opens February 3 - April 28, 2024