Fire Leap

NAN GOLDIN

Fire Leap

Sprovieri Gallery (London)

All photos ©Sprovieri Gallery

On Friday I went to the Norwegian Church in London to be part of the Memorial for the horrible attacks in Norway 22/07. It felt good to be there, a calm togetherness lingered in the packed Church. With an intense headache, I sat through the ceremony, had the lovely waffles and coffee that was served so lovingly and felt the closeness of the other Norwegians that missed home right now.

After the ceremony I ventured to Heddon Street to view the Nan Goldin exhibition at the Sprovieri Gallery, before my headache took over and guided me home. The Fire Leap photos felt quite fitting on a day like this. A few of us had just been talking about "How do people become evil? What makes somebody do what they do?" A question I would dare anybody to try and answer. I just read somewhere that 3-5% of the population lacks empathy, is that why someone can become mass murderers or is it because of the way we grow up? So many questions and so few answers.

Nan Goldin though is the master of describing humanity through her photos. Her photos are brutally realistic in a way that you nearly think you know the subjects. In the photo stream that can be seen here you follow pregnancy through birth and early childhood, with kids singing "Desperado"(The Eagles), "Space Oddity" David Bowie and "I'm so Glad (I'm a little boy and you're a little Girl) (Jimmy Boyd).

Isabella as a ghost

This song was also sung and it is so touching I had to post the Mommy version of it here, many of you probably grew up with it?:

LITTLE CHILD (MOMMY/DADDY DEAR)

(Mon Enfant) (Traditional)  

Mommy dear, tell me please is the world really round? 

Tell me where is the bluebird of happiness found? 

Tell me why is the sky up above is so blue? 

And when you were a child did your mommy tell you? 

What becomes of the sun when it falls into the sea? 

And who lights it again bright as bright can be? 

Tell me why can't I fly without wings through the skies? 

Tell me why, Mommy dear, are there tears in your eyes? 

Little one, little one, yes, the world's really round

And the bluebird you search for will surely be found

And the sky up above is so blue and clear so that

You'll see the bluebird if it should come near

And the sun doesn't fall when it slips out of sight

All it does is make way for the moon's pretty light

And if children could fly there'd be no need for birds

And I cry, little one, 'cause I'm touched by your words

Don't be sad, Mommy dear, if it's true the world's round

I will search 'round the world till the bluebird is found

Little one, there's no need to wander too far

For what you really seek is right here where you are

Show me where, Mommy dear, and here's what I will do

I will take the dear bluebird and give it to you 

Dear,the bluebird's the love in your heart pure and true

And I found it the day heaven blessed me with you

Nan Goldin is an American photographer born in Washington D.C. Already at 15 she had her first solo show documenting gays and transexuals. Her whole life has been a photographic journal through love, sexuality, drugs, domesticity, sorrow and happiness. 

Nan Goldin is known as an artist whose output is inextricably bound up with her own biography, and for breaking down the traditional barrier between the camera and what is being photographed. Her naturally lit images document her surrogate family of friends and lovers, and – more often than not – are frank confrontations with personal experience, and explorations of both intimacy and the alienation that can be wound up within it. 

          - Sprovieri Gallery

Ava

Let's make a baby king
Let's make him Lord of all
Let's give him everything
Let's make a baby king

(text from "Let's Make a Baby King" Wynonna Judd)

How can we make sure that we will be able to take care of the next generation, and embrace them with love and security? Even if we can't take care of many, what about trying with the once you already have around?

It makes me hope dearly that my kids will think of me as a good mother when they grow up. Will I be able to protect them from damage and sorrow? to keep hearing their pure happy innocent childish laughter? Probably not. But, I will be there for them as much as I can.

WITH LOVE

Kristin