Erwin Olaf - I AM - 2019

Ultimate overview book of Erwin Olaf, one of Europe's leading photographers. On the occasion of Erwin Olaf's sixtieth birthday, the photographer presents his first comprehensive overview of his work. The thick book, featuring no less than 240 photographs, showcases both his earliest black-and-white images and his iconic free work, up to the latest – and so far unpublished – series he created in Shanghai and the United States. This chronological overview describes the artist's unique vision and his evolution over the past four decades, from a bold provocateur in Amsterdam's nightlife to a royal portraitist and master of stillness. Olaf masters the art of photography down to the finest details and offers a poignant, compelling commentary on the context of his work. The photo book accompanies a major retrospective at multiple venues. The exhibition begins with a double exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag and the Fotomuseum in The Hague (from February 16 to May 12, 2019) and an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (July 2 to September 22, 2019). The exhibition also travels to other locations in Europe, China, South Korea, and the United States. The publication includes an introduction by Wim van Sinderen (Fotomuseum Den Haag) and texts by Francis Hodgson (Professor of Culture of Photography at the University of Brighton), Mattie Boom (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam), Laura Stamps (Gemeentemuseum Den Haag), W.M. Hunt (author and former photo gallery owner), and Lesley A. Martin (Aperture). Ultimate overview book of Erwin Olaf, one of Europe's leading photographers.