Dina Goldstein
i. I am: DINA GOLDSTEIN ARTIST. b.1969. East Vancouver.
I photograph large scale narrative tableau.
In my work I tackle the common (collective) imagination and inherent beliefs. I subvert iconic characters and dogmatic thought patterns set by societies and popular culture in order to promote critical thinking.
I was a photojournalist and editorial photographer 1992-2006 before moving to tableau and shooting with a precise pre-post production methodology.
My first constructed series, Fallen Princesses, 2009, challenges the ‘happily ever after’ trope perpetuated by Disney and the broad theme of disillusionment.
.
Fallen Princesses
CINDER. 2007
.
SNOWY, 2008
.
I continued with my series In The Dollhouse, 2012 staged on a very pink life size dollhouse belonging to the beloved dolls Barbie and Ken. This in order to discuss unattainable beauty standards, and identity traps endorsed by popular culture.
Gods Of Suburbia, 2014, places Gods from popular religions in modernity to examine and question inherent belief systems. Modern Girl, 2016 satirical Ads inspired by 1930’s Shanghai advertising posters, is critical of excessive commercialism and the use of the female body to sell products.
My most recent work The 10 Commandments, 2019, makes social commentary about Conservatism, the interpretation of the Constitution, and religious interference within American politics. This by featuring representations of American Presidents including Donald Trump (played by a woman) and weaving complex narratives based on the moral tenets of the Ten Commandments.
.
In The Dollhouse
Breakfast, 2012
.
Tub & Toilet, 2012
.
ii. I do this creative work because it is a way to make social commentary, using satire and humour. To promote discourse and critical thinking.
iii. A ‘typical’ day for me under Covid lockdown involves:
Heading to my studio ‘The Bunker’ for a day of work. When I’m in production on a series, this is a busy creative hub. Currently I’m working with 2 assistants on my 25 yr archive, documenting and printing to add to the collection.
iv. Personal qualities that help me in my work are:
I am a people person ! I adore, admire, and advocate for individuality.
v. The greatest challenges around doing this work are:
Budgets!!! I’m creating high production value on tiny budgets. In order to realize my grande projects I must get people on my side, people that want to participate in the shoots and collectors that will continuously support my practice.
.
Modern Girl
GOOD EARTH ORGANICS, 2016
.
IDEA CHEWS, 2016
.
vi. Creative childhood hobbies:
Cutting and pasting (now known as Collage), adventuring outside.
vii. Other creators who inspire you:
I have always been inspired by female pioneers in photography. Women like Margaret Bourke White, Diane Arbus and Dorthea Lange. Today I follow artists working in various mediums. I am inspired by those that continue to make art, despite being challenged by the gender, race and class disparity in the art world.
viii. Training that has helped me in this career:
When I first started out I photographed everything! I said YES to everything…that allowed me to challenge myself and find joy in even the most mundane shoot.
ix. A common trap that can hurt people in this career:
Even if you enjoy one successful series this does not guarantee success for the next. Art is fickle, you must stay humble in order to ride through the turbulence and unpredictability of this career.
.
The Ten Commandments
Commandment 6, LINCOLN, You Shall Not Murder, 2019
.
Commandment 4, ROOSEVELT, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, 2019
.
x. Some proud career moments:
The work has been the subject of academic essays and dissertations, and has been covered extensively in media around the globe. I was awarded the Prix Virginia in 2015, an International Prize for Women and invited to exhibit in Paris, France.
xi. Upcoming shows or events include:
Unfortunately I had four shows close down due to Covid. My next exhibition is in Italy, and next year I’ll be showing ‘Snapshots From The Garden Of Eden’ in St. Petersburg, Russia.
xii. If you want to work in my field, I suggest that you:
Take the time to assist someone that you admire in your city. Get a feel of what they do and how you can make it happen for yourself. Go into it understanding that it may take over a decade to make a name for yourself. Be ok with the fact that you may never achieve critical and/or financial success.
xiii. A professional goal I have for the future:
I have been showing at various museums internationally but I have yet not shown locally at institutions like Vancouver Art Gallery and Polygon.
xiv. If you want to see my work, go to:
Header: In The Dollhouse, Dining Alone, 2012
