Gagosian is set to present Nan Goldin’s “Sisters, Saints, Sibyls” at the former Welsh chapel in Soho, London, from May 30 to June 23, 2024. This immersive three-channel projection, spanning 2004 to 2022, draws inspiration from the triptych format of classical religious painting.
“Sisters, Saints, Sibyls” delves into the myth of Saint Barbara, who famously defied her parents’ beliefs, juxtaposing it with the poignant narrative of Goldin’s elder sister, Barbara, who was institutionalized at twelve, and Goldin’s own tumultuous experiences with addiction, confinement, and self-harm.
This exhibition marks the second instalment of the Gagosian Open, a series of off-site projects designed to showcase extraordinary artworks in unique settings.
Nan Goldin, born on September 12, 1953, in Washington, D.C., is an acclaimed American photographer renowned for her intimate and deeply personal documentation of her life and the lives of her friends within the LGBTQ+ community. Goldin’s seminal work, “The Ballad of Sexual Dependency,” offers a raw visual diary of the downtown New York City scene in the 1980s, exploring themes of love, gender identity, sexuality, and the AIDS crisis. Her unflinching portrayal of human vulnerability and emotional intensity has earned her numerous accolades and a lasting influence on contemporary photography. Goldin remains vital in identity, community, and human connection discussions.
In recent years, Nan Goldin has become an outspoken activist against the Sackler family and their role in the opioid crisis. Drawing from her own experiences with opioid addiction, she founded the advocacy group P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) to hold the Sackler family accountable for their company’s aggressive and misleading marketing of OxyContin. Through high-profile protests at major art institutions, many of which had accepted significant donations from the Sacklers, Goldin has successfully pressured several museums to sever ties with the family. Her activism has brought heightened awareness to the devastating impact of the opioid crisis and has underscored the need for accountability and reform.