Nan Goldin, Visiting Artist Lecture 1996

In this personal, intimate lecture, Nan Goldin talks about her artistic practice which is rooted in photography, specifically 35mm film. Goldin shows a series of photographs that depict her friends, and her personal life. Goldin also shows photographs when she started documenting the drag culture in New York during the 1970s, specifically the trans community. Goldin also talks about the importance of working with and photographing the same group of people for over 25 years, which has allowed her to develop a loyalty and longevity that can be hard to find. For Goldin, her work as a photographer is very much a part of her life, and she continues to feel connected to the people she photographs. Golden also speaks to the psychology about her work, which is more important than any theoretical notions about art. Goldin comments on her interests in series, tracing histories, and the complexities of the people she photographs. Themes of generosity, love, desire, and homage continue to be at the core of Goldin’s practice. Goldin ends her lecture by stating that reconstructing her family structure is constantly looking at the past. There is a big difference between the past and the present. Photography allows her to make a bridge between these two ideas, while also teaching her what it means to be human, the struggle to get close, and the struggle between autonomy and dependency.