Korte beschrijving/Annotatie

The ultimate tribute to the Netherlands’ most rebellious multimedia artist: Erwin Olaf

Tekst achterflap

Photographer, artist, activist

Erwin Olaf (1959–2023) is regarded as one of the most influential photographic artists in the Netherlands. His visual language is instantly recognizable: meticulously composed, technically refined, and charged with meaning. With a sharp eye for lighting and mise-en-scène, he was able to bring aesthetics and commitment together.

Olaf was both an artist and a fighter. He stood up for the freedom to be who you are. His fight was waged not only with his camera, but also through film, sculpture, and the queer parties he organized.

The publication Erwin Olaf – Freedom offers an in-depth survey of the full reach of his rich, varied and groundbreaking work, from the early 1980s until just before his death. It is an indispensable book for anyone who views art as a catalyst for change.

With contributions by Charlotte Cotton, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Jonathan Turner, Rein Wolfs and others, as well as conversations with Taco Dibbits, Hans van Manen, Charl Landvreugd and Shirley den Hartog and Els Wuyts.

This book is published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from October 11, 2025, to March 1, 2026.

Beschrijving

Photographer, artist, activist

Erwin Olaf (1959–2023) is regarded as one of the most influential photographic artists in the Netherlands. His visual language is instantly recognizable: meticulously composed, technically refined, and charged with meaning. With a sharp eye for lighting and mise-en-scène, he was able to bring aesthetics and commitment together.

Olaf was both an artist and a fighter. He stood up for the freedom to be who you are. His fight was waged not only with his camera, but also through film, sculpture, and the queer parties he organized.

The publication Erwin Olaf – Freedom offers an in-depth survey of the full reach of his rich, varied and groundbreaking work, from the early 1980s until just before his death. It is an indispensable book for anyone who views art as a catalyst for change.

With contributions by Charlotte Cotton, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Jonathan Turner, Rein Wolfs and others, as well as conversations with Taco Dibbits, Hans van Manen, Charl Landvreugd and Shirley den Hartog and Els Wuyts.

This book is published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name in Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from October 11, 2025, to March 1, 2026.

Slogan/Promotie

The ultimate tribute to the Netherlands’ most rebellious multimedia artist: Erwin Olaf

Erwin Olaf – Freedom offers a unique insight into the work and life of Erwin Olaf (1959–2023), one of the Netherlands’ most pioneering artistic figures. Renowned for his staged, cinematic visual language and bold aesthetic, Olaf explored themes such as sexuality, transience, vulnerability, and activism throughout his career.

A tireless advocate for equal rights, Olaf captured both the beauty and the struggle of those who exist outside the norm. His final works – never before exhibited – include Self-Portrait with Lungs (2023), a profoundly personal and artistic confrontation.

Featuring powerful imagery and a wealth of previously unseen work, this book stands as a compelling tribute to an artist who redefined the medium of photography and leaves behind a legacy of beauty, resistance, and humanity. Insightful essays by leading writers provide fresh perspectives on his artistic and social significance.

With contributions from Paco Barragán, Charlotte Cotton, Jonathan Turner, Francis Hodgson, Tahrim Ramdjan, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Hans van Manen, Taco Dibbits, Charl Landvreugd, Shirley den Hartog and others.

This book is published on the occasion of the major retrospective at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, from October 10, 2025 to March 1, 2026.

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