Danielle L. Goldstein: Transience

Beautiful photographic-psychological processing of a divorce

Danielle Goldstein began this project thirteen years ago at a time of relative innocence. Both in her own life and, in retrospect, in the world.

Transience began in an ancient hotel room in Spain. The room felt haunted, and Danielle started thinking about the many souls that may have inhabited that room. She wanted to try to document both the physical and metaphorical space, so she used herself as a kind of placeholder. The project took hold and became a defining aspect of her work.

In 2017, Danielle's world blew up when her husband and she separated. She was devastated, destroyed, barely functional. Goldstein understands that this work is highly personal, a diary of sorts of her mid to late-ish life. She also understands and appreciates her privilege in visiting the beauty of the places she has been blessed to be able to visit. Yet her pain was real and all-encompassing. And her rebirth has been as well.

Transience is a beautiful and truly original testimony of conquering despair. Goldstein's exquisite book can give a tiny bit of joy, solace, and hope to anyone who is feeling challenged by their circumstances.