The eponymous ‘attendant’ of Julien’s short film is a middle-aged black man who finds his homoerotic fantasies taking over the museum he supervises when a painting depicting scenes of slavery becomes a tableau vivant of sadomasochistic desire. With this work, Julien inaugurates what has since become a recurring feature of his film and installation work, a fascination with the museum as a space for stylish and imaginative interventions.