In Memorian: Erwin Olaf, a retrospective paying homage to timeless art

by Redazione , published on 12/03/2025
Categories: Exhibitions / Disclaimer
The Paci Contemporary gallery is hosting an exhibition from April 5 to Sept. 30, 2025, that traces four decades of the career of Erwin Olaf, a visionary photographer whose art disrupted social conventions.

The Paci Contemporary gallery in Brescia is hosting from April 5 through September 30, 2025 an exhibition, entitled In memoriam: Erwin Olaf 1959-2023, celebratingthe life and work of Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf (Hilversum, 1959 - Groningen, 2023), who passed away 2023 leaving a legacy that transcends the boundaries of photography and encompasses the entire visual arts landscape. The exhibition is a tribute to Olaf’s contribution to the art world. The gallery’s tribute thus follows in the wake of the many international accolades Olaf has received, culminating in the inclusion of one of his most iconic works, #Hope 5, in the “Gallery of Honor” at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. In addition, in 2025, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam will dedicate a retrospective to him that will further help solidify his status as a master of contemporary photography. The exhibition at Paci Contemporary is being held in collaboration with Studio Olaf, directed by Shirley den Hartog, the artist’s right-hand man and his longtime manager, and the Erwin Olaf Foundation. The foundation, created last September, aims not only to perpetuate his artistic work, but also to advance his ideals of activism for equality, freedom of expression and the celebration of diversity. Shirley den Hartog will be present on opening night, a tangible sign of the continuity of Olaf’s work and message.

The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of his career, with more than eighty images, some of them previously unpublished. The selection includes such emblematic works as Chessmen, the series that won him the Young European Photographer competition in 1988, marking his entry onto the international scene. Alongside Chessmen, the exhibition presents a series of works that have become true symbols of contemporary art, such as Paradise (2001), Rain (2004), Hope (2005), Grief (2007) and Fall (2008), works in which aesthetic beauty is fused with a strong emotional and social charge. These are joined by subsequent projects, including Keyhole (2011-2013) and the Berlin-Shanghai-Palm Springs trilogy (2012-2018), in which Olaf explores new forms of expression, always reflecting on the role of the individual in society and his existential loneliness.

Erwin Olaf, April Fool 9.30am (2020; 31 x 46 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, April Fool 9.30am (2020; 31 x 46 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Grief, Sara Portrait (2007; Fuji Crystal Digital Paper, 133 x 100 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Grief, Sara Portrait (2007; Fuji Crystal Digital Paper, 133 x 100 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Fall, Joschka (2008; Lambda print, 141 x 106 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Fall, Joschka (2008; Lambda Print, 141 x 106 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.

The journey through these images is a visual journey from the early stages of Olaf’s career, characterized by a documentary and provocative visual activism. His youthful works openly challenge social and political taboos, addressing issues such as identity, sexuality and marginalization. As the years passed, his style evolved, becoming more reflective and intellectually sophisticated. His later works move away from more explicit imagery and focus on studio-constructed photography, influenced by early Dutch art and the cinematic atmospheres of the 1950s. The exhibition will be accompanied by the volume edited by Walter Guadagnini, which brings together a selection of his most significant works, with an introduction written by Olaf himself in 2020. Published by Silvana Editoriale, the book offers an in-depth reading of his work and its impact on the global art scene.

Erwin Olaf, Keyhole, Keyhole 6 (2012; Lambda print, 133 × 84 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Keyhole, Keyhole 6 (2012; Lambda print, 133 × 84 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Palm Springs, The Farewell, Double Portrait (2018; chromogenic print on Fuji Chrystal Archive paper, 60 x 106.7 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.
Erwin Olaf, Palm Springs, The Farewell, Double Portrait (2018; Chromogenic print on Fuji Chrystal Archive paper, 60 × 106.7 cm). Courtesy of Paci contemporary gallery.

In Memorian: Erwin Olaf, a retrospective paying homage to timeless art
In Memorian: Erwin Olaf, a retrospective paying homage to timeless art


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