LOOKING BACK AT LIFE AND WORK OF ERWIN OLAF
words by MAREK BARTEK
Last week, we have witnessed a loss of Erwin Olaf, one of the most acclaimed Dutch photographers. Erwin received recognition for highly theatrical compositions, which incorporated complex and dramatic narratives into his still photographs. His work was described as straddling “the worlds of commercial, art and fashion photography at once.” Daring and provocative, Erwin was also a gay rights advocate. In 2012 he famously organised a kiss-in that had around one hundred participants as a response to a snack bar owner commenting on Olaf kissing his boyfriend. Erwin passed away at the age of 64 after battling emphysema weeks after receiving a lung transplant. Today, we would like to honor his memory by looking back at his remarkable work.
LADIES HATS (1985 – 2022)
Inspired by the work of Rembrandt and intrigued by the fact that men suddenly stopped wearing hats upon the beginning of 20th century, Olaf explored the technique of chiaroscuro. The models were styled to have piercing and sometimes flirtatious glances, seducing the viewer with their extravagant hats and expressive poses. Throughout this series, Erwin played on androgyny and questioned the idea of heteronormativity and macho culture.
SELF-PORTRAITS (1985 – 2015)
Present in many of his photos himself, Erwin often used self-portraits as a form of documentation. For his 50th birthday, he produced a piece “I wish, I am, I will be” depicting how he looked in the present, how he wished he had looked now and how he would look in the future. Olaf spoke not only to his own aging and to our culture’s obsession with youth and beauty but also forecasted what the illness would do to him in the third panel of the self-portrait.
PALM SPRINGS (2018)
Palm Springs was the third chapter of a larger project that included the ‘Berlin’ and ‘Shanghai’ series. Through these series, Erwin explored the evolving developments and cultures of three distinct cities. In ‘Palm Springs,’ he addressed numerous social and cultural issues in American society, delving into themes like homosexuality, racial injustice, gender inequality, and reproductive rights.
OFFICIAL ROYAL PORTRAITS (2018)
Erwin was first commissioned to take photos of Queen Máxima in 2011 for AD Magazine. Since then, he photographed the royal family multiple time, including the official royal portraits.
BERLIN (2012)
This series of images was produced at historical locations around the German capital, including its Olympic Stadium, and features Aryan children performing authoritarian roles, subtly hinting at Berlin’s troubled past. Through this thought-provoking visual narrative, Erwin skillfully confronts the city’s complex history and the enduring echoes of its past.
SQUARES (1983 – 2018)
The images are characterized by a blend of visual humor and continuous references to the formal aspects of art, the subculture and visual language of gay pornography, and the conventions of advertising and fashion photography. Erwin skillfully juxtaposes these elements, infusing his work with a captivating blend of impact and emotion.
DESIGN FOR THE DUTCH EURO COINS (2014)
In 2013, Erwin Olaf received an invitation to contribute a design for the new Dutch national side of the Euro coins, joining artists from across the Netherlands in this endeavor. Olaf’s victorious design, which was minted in 2014, presents a striking representation of the King, depicted through a geometric, angular abstraction that symbolizes the Dutch landscape as viewed from an aerial perspective. The monarch, a direct representation of his nation, is divided by a bold, authoritative typography declaring “Willem-Alexander, Koning der Nederlanden.”
cover photo via fotoexpositie.nl
