The Visitors

If Paris was the centre of the avant-garde in the 1920s, the focal point shifted in the 1960s to New York. In response, an influx of artists from around the world arrived in the United States in pursuit of recognition and inspiration. They landed in the country during a moment of national reckoning around identity brought about by the Civil Rights Movement and the women’s liberation movement.

This programme highlights films by artists who temporarily relocated to New York, Chicago and California to tap into the fervour while at the same time making their own mark. Seen through eyes of these temporary residents, these cities are captured in their vibrancy at a moment when their foundations were being shaken by counterculture and political tensions.

Curated and introduced by Julian Ross, Head of Film Programming.