Jimmy Paulette and Tabboo! undressing, NYC 1991

Curator: This photograph is by Nan Goldin, called "Jimmy Paulette and Tabboo! undressing, NYC" and it's part of the Tate collection. It has a voyeuristic feel, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, there's a raw, backstage quality. The flash is harsh, and the materials feel... provisional. That almost sheer top, the raw edge of the skirt. It all speaks to the economics of self-fashioning, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly! It feels so tender, like catching a glimpse of someone becoming themselves. There’s a vulnerability here, in the space between dressing and undressing. A magic in the mundane. Editor: And that mirror! It's not just a reflection; it's a portal to another layer of performance, another set of material conditions shaping identity. Curator: It really captures that sense of community, the shared experience of getting ready, the intimacy of chosen family. I find that quite moving, frankly. Editor: Indeed. It is a testament to how resourcefulness and creativity intersect to create beauty amidst constraint. Curator: Well, it gives you a lot to consider, doesn’t it? Editor: It certainly does. Thanks for pointing it all out.