Erwin Olaf has traveled a long way as an artist since he began taking pictures almost three decades ago.

Born in Hilversum, the Netherlands, in 1959, Olaf graduated from the Utrecht School for Journalism, with a degree in newspaper journalism and photojournalism. He emerged on the international art scene in 1988 when he was awarded the first prize in the Young European Photographer competition with his series Chessmen, and since then he hasn’t stopped, receiving numerous awards, both for his commercial and personal works.

Chessmen series
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Chessmen series
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There is probably no better way to describe Olaf’s work then as it is on his personal website: “Erwin Olaf’s art implicitly visualizes the unspoken, the overlooked, that which typically resists easy documentation. Olaf’s trademark is to address social issues, taboos and bourgeois conventions within the framework of a highly stylized and cunning mode of imagery. With the aid of his razor-sharp aesthetic intuition, Olaf purposely conceals his themes so that the viewer unconsciously and initially accepts the concealment found in his photo series.” – http://www.erwinolaf.com

Paradise Portraits series
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Paradise Portraits series
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Launched on the 1^st of February 2012, La Sucrière is a huge new venue dedicated to art and events, which will host a large amount of international exhibitions and also the Lyon Biennial Art festival every two years and the Nuits Sonores (Indie and Electronic French Festival).

“Emotions – Installations till 2012 by Erwin Olaf” is the first major solo exhibition held in France, by the Dutch artist Erwin Olaf, hosted by La Sucrière from March 21^st to June 30^th, 2013, consisting of photographic and video works produced by the artist between 2001 and 2012.

Olaf’s rather unique style comes across immediately. His mix of carefully staged photographs with photojournalism, the choice of light, that somehow is similar to the common light conditions in Netherlands, the 60’s esthetic feel, the decors and mostly every other element in his work creates his well known style.

The 2001 series Paradise The Club and Paradise Portrait mixes the festive, colorful and obscure world of the circus (which can easily launch a coulrophobia attack), beauty, taboos and social conventions, in a glossy yet sinister way.

Paradise the Club series
VIP Lounge
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In 2003, after losing his father, Olaf produces the Separation series, a set of 9 photos and a video, depicting what seems to be a mother and her child, dressed in black latex, going through their daily routine in a cold emotionless environment, which might leave you with an eerie feeling of isolation and restriction.

Separation Series
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Separation Series
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Set in Paris 2019, the short film Le Dernier Cri depicts a picture perfect suburban house, with a retro 1950’s look to it, at the very moment that a woman is preparing for a social gathering. Nothing seems to be out of place or strange at first glance, only the creepy feeling you have with most of Erwin Olaf’s work that something must be wrong. As the woman answers the doorbell you finally see the women’s extensive facial modifications and bizarre implants, that make one think of some kind of futuristic body piercing and plastic surgery trends.

In one of his most recent installations presented at La Sucrière, Olaf has the viewer sit down and looking through a keyhole. The Keyhole series deals with topics like shame, voyeurism and secrecy in a dramatic and striking installation where the subject is always turned away from the camera in postures of humility and remorse.

So, if you happen to be in Lyon this summer, make sure to visit La Sucrière; Olaf’s unconventional and dramatic style will surely meet even the highest of your art loving expectations.

Keyhole Project
Keyhole 1
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Keyhole Project
Keyhole 3
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by Alexandra Mateescu

Alexandra Mateescu is a photo-video junkie who left her imaginary super successful forensics career in favor of the University of Arts. She frequently gets mistaken with a 16 year old high school girl so you’ll never catch her without her ID, she has a strong passion for the 80’s, and her kind of art must be funny and a little bit ironic.

http://www.behance.net/alexandra_mateescu

image source: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/photography/