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Author Archives: Alice Mitkova
MoMA Exhibit: Nan Goldin
Nan Goldin’s work signs the viewer up for a wild drug-induced ride through the 1980s. Heroin and love were the drugs of choice. Depicted in the exhibit’s main room was a selection of raw scenes of lust to loneliness. Goldin’s excellent manipulation of light allowed for sharp textures throughout each image, creating mini environments visitors could theoretically walk into. In Rise and Monty Kissing, you could feel the moment of walking through a crowded party, scanning the room, and spotting this scene laid out in front of you. Every image has this feeling of genuineness rooted in its raw lighting and composition. Many of the images were self-portraits of Nan, solo or including various lovers. With these scenes, viewers can gain a sense of connection with Nan through the episodes from her life she chooses to exhibit. We feel her pain and empathize with her story.
The other half of the MoMA exhibit included a 46-minute slideshow with partnering soundtrack. After sitting through a couple songs, its simple to see the strong relationship with the songs in the soundtrack and the images they presented. Each song’s lyrics and general tone transferred into that of their paired images. Long, emotion-filled rock songs with lyrics about sex, drugs and rock and roll paired with images of various partially absent individuals using heroin needles. Songs about female empowerment paired with images of early drag queens. With this interesting form of presentation, Goldin further allows viewers into her thoughts by providing them with a clue about her feelings on different aspects of her life through the songs chosen in this well formulated soundtrack.
In all, Goldin is inspiring in her ability to allow her audience into her head. She provides an experience that leaves viewers with a powerful insight into her story.
Cindy Sherman
With work dating between the 1970s up through the 21st century, Cindy Sherman can best be described as an ever-changing artist with a constant message. She was a child of the New York/ New Jersey area in 60s and influenced by the work of Dali and Picasso.
In the 1970s, Sherman began creating her intriguing black and white film stills, mainly consisting of images of herself. Though only being images of Ms. Sherman, they were far from being self-portraits. Each still contained its own character. Each separate image depicted a different female character typically found in the press: a young girl, house mom, fragile grandmother, etc.
Later, in 1980s, the look of Cindy’s images changed with the decade. Beginning in 1981, Sherman started playing with color in her images. With the increase of color, came an increase in tone. Her work from this time period would leave the viewer with an uneasy feeling. By playing with makeup and shadows, Cindy adds a “look what you created “ tone to these abnormal depictions of a woman in the public eye.
When the 1990s hit, Sherman’s work took a turn for the bold. She began including sculptures whose aforementioned Dali and Picasso inspiration rose to climax. These newer images toyed with the ideas of human sexuality, body image and gender roles, but with a surreal twist.
Sherman’s newest work brings the focus back on her former caricature-like portraits now with new age quality to them. Full body costumes, makeup extremes, and school picture day backgrounds seem to me to be the fulfillment of an extremely creative woman’s ideas. When presented with Cindy Sherman’s full body of work, you see her thought process very clearly and how each of the former eras of her work were stepping stones for her to create the statement pieces she creates today.
1970s: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/cindy-sherman-untitled
1980s: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/cindy-sherman-untitled-number-130a
1990s: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/cindy-sherman-untitled-61
2000s/10s: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/cindy-sherman-untitled-39
Source: http://www.cindysherman.com/biography.shtml