Nan Goldin, born in Washington, D.C. in 1953, discovered her passion for photography at the age of fifteen when a teacher distributed Polaroid cameras to students at the Satya Community School in Boston. Her journey into photography began with black-and-white captures of her friends within Boston's transvestite community during the early 1970s, culminating in her inaugural solo exhibition at Project, Inc. in 1973
NAN GOLDIN
Nan Goldin, born in Washington, D.C. in 1953, discovered her passion for photography at the age of fifteen when a teacher distributed Polaroid cameras to students at the Satya Community School in Boston. Her journey into photography began with black-and-white captures of her friends within Boston's transvestite community during the early 1970s, culminating in her inaugural solo exhibition at Project, Inc. in 1973.
Completing her BFA from Tufts University in 1977, Goldin extended her studies, earning an additional Fifth Year Certificate in 1978. Throughout her academic progression, she transitioned to employing vibrant Cibachrome prints in her work. Relocating to New York, a central backdrop for her iconic photography, she swiftly immersed herself in the downtown New Wave scene. Goldin presented evocative slide shows of her images set to music at venues like the Mudd Club and various art spaces.
The collection of images showcased in these slide shows laid the foundation for her acclaimed body of work titled The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1980–86). This series, characterized by candid snapshots portraying amorous relationships, struggles with drug addictionand intimate glimpses into the artist's own life, earned her recognition as a significant photographer when exhibited at the Whitney Biennial in 1985. Her work was also showcased at film festivals, including the Edinburgh and Berlin festivals in 1985 and 1986, respectively.
The lifestyle depicted in The Ballad of Sexual Dependency took a toll on the subjects as many had passed away by the early 1990s. In 1988, Goldin herself sought rehabilitation. Despite the challenges, she courageously continued to candidly document her life, incorporating her experiences into her art. Over time, her photography transitioned from illustrating youthful recklessness to portraying scenes of parenthood and domesticity across diverse international landscapes.
In 1994, she collaborated with photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, publishing Tokyo Love, a series capturing Japanese youth. In addition to her depictions of couples and individuals within household interiors, Goldin recently expanded her repertoire to include luminous landscape photographs, evoking connections with the visual style of German Romantics such as Caspar David Friedrich.
