Modernism / Postmodernism: Street Art

Image taken from: 
http://www.fotopedia.com/wiki/Banksy

Graffiti is found literally everywhere in most City areas, it can be a form of 'tagging' and getting ones name across.  However graffiti can be a somewhat beautiful thing.  Street artists such as Banksy create graffiti which brings a message to the world.  The one below was created in Brick Lane, London.  The basic message is what wherever you go, there is always something watching you.  Things like this makes people think twice about their lifestyle. I have always been a fan of street art, however certain 'tagging' of scribbling names is a big no for me.

John Stezaker

John Stezaker work is part of the surreal movement which is normally made using collaging with images such as film stills, publicity photographs and postcards.  When first seeing Stezaker's images I found them to be pretty much simple, but he makes simple very beautiful.  Using two different images that you would not find together collaged makes his work very unique.  Stezaker creates a mystery behind the front images even though you can figure out what it is. I am very fond of his work. 

Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin lived a very difficult life, when she was young her sister committed suicide at the age of 18.  This affected Gouldin in her photography.  Her photos consist of drug use, violence, abusive relationships and autobiographic moments.  Most of her photographic subjects dead before the 90s, mostly from drug overdose or HIV.    Some of the subjects were close friends of Gouldin's. Her way of dealing with her difficult life was to document every moment of it.

The picture below is Nan and her boyfriend after having sex. This image was taken as part of a series of her work on sex and immediate relationships after having sex.  There is no connection between the two while she stares at her boyfriend while he inhales his cigarette.  His body is facing away from her.  After 4 years of a abusive relationship Nan and her boyfriend broke up.