GOTHIC HORROR: Nan Goldin - The Ballad of Sexual Dependancy (Claudia Inspo)

Nan Goldin's The Ballad of Sexual Dependency is described as 'a visual diary chronicling the struggle for intimacy and understanding between friends, family, and lovers—collectively described by Goldin as her “tribe.”

The Ballad of Sexual Dependency is a 1985 slide show exhibition photographed by Nan Goldin and showcases the heroin subculture of the Bowery neighbourhood and Nan's personal and love life. This series of work was credited by Bill Clinton for inventing 'heroin chic'

"portrayed her friends – many of them part of the hard-drugs subculture on New York's lower east side – as they partied, got high, fought and had sex."

The aspect of Nan's work which I like the best is the fact that her work gives you an insight into a certain environment and different experiences, the photographs that she takes are revealing, intimate, personal and sometimes erotic. Some of her photos show her friends dead in open caskets and also people engaging in sexual intercourse. I think this links to my character Claudia and also the show American Horror story as some of the subjects covered in her photography are taboo and provide me with good research into theme's that I am including in my character design as it shows real life substance abuse.

One of the criticisms that people have had of Nan's work is that it makes heroin-use appear glamourous and of pioneering a grunge style that later became popularised by youth fashion magazines such as The Face and I-D.

The main inspiration that I have got from these images is how to shoot my character, I particularly like the images shot in a mirror and also the close ups on injuries like a black eye and also the bruising on the leg and also the image on the bed with the towel on the head.