ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Julie Becker's Retrospective at ICA London Explores Communication, Delusion, and Failed Connections

exhibition · 2026-04-20

From June 8 to August 12, 2018, the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London showcases 'I Must Create a Masterpiece to Pay the Rent,' marking Julie Becker's inaugural retrospective. This exhibition reflects on the late artist's body of work, concluding with her tragic suicide in 2016. Becker's oeuvre encompasses installations, drawings, texts, and videos, all revolving around themes of correspondence. A significant installation, 'Researchers, Residents, A Place To Rest' (1993–96), draws inspiration from 'The Shining' (1980) and delves into the challenges of creativity and communication. Additionally, 'Transformation and Seduction' (1993–2000) combines found footage with a voiceover that reinterprets Nabokov's 'Despair' (1934). The exhibition offers a critique of conspiracy theories and delusions, as noted in ArtReview's September 2018 edition.

Key facts

  • Julie Becker's first retrospective runs from June 8 to August 12, 2018 at ICA London
  • Becker was a Los Angeles-based artist who died by suicide in 2016
  • The exhibition includes installations, drawings, texts, and videos focused on correspondence and hidden patterns
  • A major installation, 'Researchers, Residents, A Place To Rest' (1993–96), references Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'
  • The installation features a scale model of the Overlook Hotel with scenes from the film and speculative additions
  • Video work 'Transformation and Seduction' (1993–2000) uses footage paired with a voiceover from Vladimir Nabokov's 'Despair'
  • Drawings like 'I Am Am I?' (2003) explore themes of doubling and misrecognition with reflective foil
  • The exhibition critiques conspiracy theories and delusional thinking in contemporary culture

Entities

Artists

  • Julie Becker
  • Stanley Kubrick
  • Vladimir Nabokov
  • Jack Torrance

Institutions

  • Institute of Contemporary Arts
  • ArtReview
  • Entertainment Agency
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Psychiatrist

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Los Angeles
  • United States

Sources