Dina Goldstein: OG Punk

Dina Goldstein OG Punk Exhibition Catalogue May 6th - 28th, 2022

Abbozzo Gallery 401 Richmond Street West, Unit 128, Toronto ON, M5V 3A8.

Tel: (416) 260-2220 www.abbozzogallery.com Member of the Art Dealers Association of Canada

Front cover image: Mad Dog, see page 11

OG Punk: Exhibition Works List May 6th - 28th, 2022 Billy Hopeless, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Chris N., Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Doug Donut, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

Exploding Skull, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Heather Haley, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Lisa, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

Mad Dog, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

Mad Dog 2, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

Myles Peterson, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Myles Peterson C.,Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Nardwuar, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Raven, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Rob Punk, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Soul Raven, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Spud, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Syd Savage, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

Photographer Bev Davies with son Keif, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

The Cretin, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Wendy Thirteen, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

Wendy Thirteen Curiosities, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Billy Hopeless, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Foreword

Never has the saying 'it's just a phase' rung so falsely as it does in Dina Goldstein's OG Punk photography series, an exhibition that makes light of the longevity of the 1970's punk movement and celebrates the individuals that comprised and defined it. Goldstein shares with us a loving look at the different ways the true spirit of rebellion from that period continues to inspire each subject to this day. Whether it's the loud and boisterous statement in Mad Dog (2021), or the feeling of accomplishment and pride radiated by Wendy Thirteen (2021), it becomes clear that each image is a statement on a different facet of youth: unpredictable moments of elation and despair, tranquility and restlessness, optimistic views of the future mixed with the fear of inevitably growing old. Goldstein shows us that the dualities defining the Punk movement are in fact universal and pervade youth culture to this day, directly connecting 1972 to 2022, using each person or object or article of clothing as ambassadors to the modern world, carrying a message reading 'we were, we are, and we will continue to be'.

OG Punk marks Dina Goldstein's first solo exhibition with Abbozzo Gallery and will also part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival during May, 2022.

- Ryan Monadjem, Abbozzo Gallery

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Chris N., 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Statement

OG Punk speaks to the legacy of punk as an anarchistic, youth counterculture rebelling against mainstream society. An attitude more than a movement, in the 1970s punk swept across the globe and was often motivated by urgent political concerns. Early on, the West Coast had an especially vibrant hardcore punk music scene. Over the past year Dina Goldstein has photographed key figures from the legendary punk rock scene of the 1980s and 1990s in Vancouver and Victoria.

The portraits in OG Punk from this ongoing series were shot with a neutral studio backdrop, establishing a mood of staged and theatrical artifice. The subjects self-consciously perform for the camera, showing off their punk regalia, spiked hairdos, and tattoos. Some pose with playful bravado, others are more introverted, even melancholic. Seen as they are today, these original punks have matured as distinct personalities while still retaining their subculture personas, as their nicknames imply. Distinctions between costume and everyday adornment are hard to decipher, drawing attention to the limits of selffashioning. Each portrait carries tensions between the public display of social identity and individual expression. For Goldstein’s subjects, punk culture persists as a rebellious attitude, and as Lisa Jak of the Dayglo Abortions band claims: “as long as there is ignorance, oppression, and intolerance we’ll be here to fight back.”

- Helga Pakaasar, Curator, The Polygon Gallery

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Doug Donut, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

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Exploding Skull, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Heather Haley, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Lisa, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

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Mad Dog, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

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Mad Dog 2, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

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Myles Peterson, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Myles Peterson C., 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Nardwuar, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Raven, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Rob Punk, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Soul Raven, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Spud, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Syd Savage, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

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Photographer Bev Davies with son Keif, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 35 x 24.5 in.

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The Cretin, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Wendy Thirteen, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Wendy Thirteen Curiosities, 2021, Pigment on archival premium semi matte paper, 47.5 x 35 in.

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Biography DINA GOLDSTEIN b. 1969 Tel Aviv, Israel Dina Goldstein began her career over 30 years ago as a photojournalist, evolving from a documentary and editorial photographer into an independent artist focusing on large-scale productions of nuanced Narrative Photography tableaux. Her work is highly conceptual and delves into complex social commentary, incorporating cultural archetypes and iconography from the collective, common imagination, with narratives inspired by the human condition. Leaning into the visual language of pop surrealism, she stages compositions that expose the underbelly of modern life, challenging the notions of cultural influence and inherent belief systems. The vivid and provocative still imagery emerges through an entirely cinematic technique, with Dina’s established methodology following a precise pre- to post production process.

Goldstein’s first foray into tableau was in 2007. As a feminist and new mother, she was disturbed by the stereotypical societal tropes Disney was perpetrating about women and girls. Fallen Princesses (2007- 2009), is 10 piece series that features humanized fairy tale princesses dealing with modern day scourges such as cancer, addiction, obesity, war and environmental degradation. In 2015 Dina was awarded the Prix Virginia, an international prize for Women Photographers, and Fallen Princesses was exhibited in Paris, France.

Goldstein’s work has been the subject of academic essays and dissertations, and has been covered extensively in media around the globe. The projects are studied and taught in art schools, photography programs and gender studies.

The Fallen Princesses are included in elementary school textbooks, as teaching tools and subjects of discourse within the classroom. Dina is represented internationally, and consistently exhibits at festivals, biennales, commercial galleries, art centers and museums.

Goldstein's life revolves around the vibrant community of East Vancouver, where she lives with her family and runs 'The Bunker' studio.

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Photograph of the Artist, Dina Goldstein

Text by Ryan Monadjem and Helga Pakaasar All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission by the publisher © 2022 Published by Abbozzo Gallery 401 Richmond St. West, Suite 128 Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8 Credits: Images courtesy of Dina Goldstein Catalogue by Quincy Shaw Back cover image: Nardwuar, see page 14