News — Oct 16, 2024

The Stedelijk is organizing an exhibition of the work of Erwin Olaf, which opens in autumn 2025. The museum’s announcement coincides with the release of the publication Erwin Olaf Springveld. Hard werken, hard feesten, which will be presented at the Stedelijk on 11 October. Organized in collaboration with Studio Erwin Olaf, it will be the first exhibition in the Netherlands of Erwin Olaf’s work since his sudden death last year.

unknown work

As well as iconic series from Olaf’s oeuvre, the retrospective will also present never-before-seen works by the multimedia artist, both older and recent. These include the extraordinary Self-Portrait with Lungs (2023), which has yet to be shown in a museum, and work made during his illness. The exhibition will also show the edgy, underground nature of the work of Erwin Olaf, who was also known for exploring subversive and activist themes.

EQUAL RIGHTS advocate

Although he had been suffering from pulmonary emphysema for some time, Erwin Olaf died unexpectedly last year at the age of 64, after a lung transplant. He was one of the Netherlands’ most influential photographers, known for his bold style and staged photographs. His work explored the human body and themes such as sexuality and impermanence; later, man’s vulnerability and loneliness increasingly came to the fore. Olaf was a tireless fighter for equal rights for all, be it an elderly woman, a little person, queer people, people of colour, people with Down syndrome or the average person. This aspect of his work will also be highlighted in the exhibition.  

photo of Erwin Olaf with white face and white head
Erwin Olaf, 'April Fool, 11.05 am', 2020

Rein Wolfs, director Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: “Erwin Olaf was incredibly versatile as an artist. In the forthcoming exhibition, we want to show the underexposed, more raw side of his work alongside several better-known photographs, series and films. We are curious to explore the various connections his work has with art, reportage, advertising, commissioned work, activism, magazine photography and film. Erwin Olaf was a free-thinker, and a tireless advocate for equal rights and freedom of expression. This formidable strength of his is in harmony with the values that the Stedelijk upholds.”

Shirley den Hartog, manager and director of the Erwin Olaf Studio, founder of the Erwin Olaf Foundation and his right hand for many years: “It is no secret that Erwin had a love-hate relationship with the Stedelijk. But towards the end of his life, when he saw the direction the Stedelijk was taking, his views towards the museum mellowed. Erwin had always dreamt of exhibiting his work at the Stedelijk. We are delighted that this moment has now arrived. Erwin spent the last years of his life going through unpublished material, which he released. Works from all over the world are returning for this exhibition – the Stedelijk has first choice, and a free hand.”

PUBLICATION

Erwin Olaf Springveld. Hard werken, hard feesten, written by Mischa Cohen, is available in bookstores from 22 October. (De Arbeiderspers, Dutch-language, €49.99, ISBN 9789029541916)