Nan Goldin’s exhibition Sisters, Saints, Sibyls, curated by Gagosian, unfolds as part of the Gagosian Open, presenting extraordinary artworks in unique settings.
Located in the former Welsh Chapel at 83 Charing Cross Road, London, the exhibition runs from May 30th to June 23th, 2024. The film Sisters, Saints, Sibyls (2004-2022) begins with the myth of Saint Barbara, which is depicted in a three-channel projection similar to that of classical religious paintings. Saint Barbara’s defiance of her parents’ beliefs parallels the real-life struggles depicted in Goldin’s narrative.
Goldin’s older sister, Barbara Holly Goldin, became entangled in psychiatric detention at the age of twelve, accused of behaviour deemed unacceptable by mid-century standards. Her rebellion against social norms echoed throughout Goldin’s life, culminating tragically in Barbara’s suicide at the age of eighteen. The exhibition’s venue, the Welsh Chapel in Soho, symbolises Goldin’s ongoing battle against social stigma. Originally conceived for the Hôpital de la Salpêtrière in Paris, the installation evokes visceral reactions by referencing nineteenth-century operating theatres.
All images of installation view of Sisters, Saints, Sibyls by NAN GOLDIN, photography by LUCY DAWKINS, courtesy of GAGOSIAN
