Saturday, May 15, 2010

Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin (b. 1953, Washington, DC) could be regarded as vaildating the photo diary style prominent within contemporary art discourse, the artist who works in photography, film and slideshows focusses on portraiture.

The indicative intimacy of her oeuvre is acheived through her artistic approach of creating works associated asher own personal visual journal, be representing her surroundings she is empathetically depicting moments that have been influential to the evolution and definition of her sense of self. Therefore, the subtle emphasis of Goldin's work lies in a linear narrative alluding to the artist's sense of self, and it is through the seamless intergration of images of her self into this dialogue that the viewer is reminded of the disjointed protagonist.

Goldin's indicitative aspect of reflection attempts to deconstruct the physical and emotional barrier that she has lived her life through and used to define her existence, her lens, her mirror and the mirror of her subjects which in turn are elements of her self.

Within this jaundiced image Nan and Brian in Bed NYC 1983, the artist portrays her self as the passive female, reclining and tucked into her self, she gazes directly at the male central figure, who is highlighted by a warm golden ephemereal light, who exahles his cigarette smoke utterly disregarding the almost desperately affectionate gaze of his companion.

The warm lighting offers an initial intimacy that signifies the reflection of the ring that dresses the females wedding finger, a symbol presented here as if to solidify the females devotion to the irreverant male.

It is here that the woman confesses to losing her struggle with the accquistion of autonomy within intimacy an endeavour that the artist will later convey whilst surrendering the physical manifestations of the emotional pain she has carried, within for example the work entitled Nan, One Month After Being Battered NYC 1984.

2 comments:

  1. Much pain and subtlety mark the work of this artist in the world without law,to be subversive,a naked picture of hypocrisy and with great courage, the first comtemporary art.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Much pain and subtlety mark the work of this artist in the world without law,to be subversive,a naked picture of hypocrisy and with great courage, the first comtemporary art.

    ReplyDelete