‘Ballad of sexual Dependency’_Sowon Jung

As a student who currently studies digital photography, Nan Goldin’s exhibition was a good opportunity to look at what the contemporary photography is and how the photographer took a self-portrait photography with various techniques. When I first stepped into the exhibition was kind of odd and much different what I expected. Because, for me it is difficult to fully understand contemporary art which is totally different from fine art.  However, I kept observing her works over and over and then, finally I was able to understand that sexual photography could be the art.

Among her various works, there were some photographs that caught my eyes. One was a Nan is hugging the guy, probably Brian who is her boyfriend. By looking at this photography, I felt somehow loneliness even though she is hugging the guy. Because, the mood of photography seems so cold and blue with the dark background. I was also wondering how she took a self-portrait within this kind of feeling. Because, I personally think photography is all about capturing one specific time with emotions at the moments. Therefore, I assume that she is very creative photographer who tried various techniques that no one would do before. Moreover, she redefines what the photography could do and what it could be as a mirror of oneself.

Another photograph I was interested in among her works was ‘Nan one month After being battered’. When I first saw this work, I was embarrassed because, I was wondering why she was battered, who did it to her, and why she wanted to take her self-portrait at this moment. As I mentioned before, contemporary art is sort of difficult to understand as art work. Therefore, I assume some viewers might feel upset and uncomfortable as same as I felt. It could depict her as the victim of domestic violence, and it does not seem attractive at all. However, In other words, this photograph is necessary to be seen because, it also captures how the domestic violence are dangerous which reflects prominent problem at this time. By that means, it also explains that we are all witness to its effects.

Not only the photographs, her photo slide show which was playing in the small dark room was also very impressive to me. From the show I felt as if the whole pictures show a person’s life time from birth to death. In the beginning of the show, the works were totally different from what I have seen outside. She captured peaceful and beautiful moment such as the view of village, pretty children, and nude body of pregnant women which could be beautiful as it is. However, as time goes by, the slide show became stark and dark by showing sexual gay, lesbian, heroin addicted people etc. Most photographs were shock to me, because I thought that taking these kind of pictures at this time could be sensation. Most photographer would like to take beautiful pictures but Nan was different. Despite of its uncomfortable affect, I could realize how people are nature without pretense and how Nan tried to tell the true story without any secret through her pictures.