"Erwin Olaf" Talk and Book Signing

Aperture Gallery

poster for "Erwin Olaf" Talk and Book Signing

This event has ended.

On the occasion of the publication of his self-titled Aperture monograph, we are pleased to announce a talk and book signing with Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf on Tuesday, October 21. A key European figure in both fashion and fine art photography, Olaf will discuss the work from his highly anticipated new book, bringing together for the first time three of the artist's series—Rain, Hope, and Grief. Included is a first comprehensive look at his film work, through stills and an accompanying DVD that offers an overview of five of his movies, each related to the series featured in the book.

In each series, Olaf creates his own enigmatic and enticing worlds, blending together a Norman Rockwell-style kitsch, a film noir intensity, and a strangeness reminiscent of the films of American filmmaker David Lynch. The work wryly celebrates America of the 1950s and 1960s with stereotypical characters, including cheerleaders, a boy scout, a housewife, a young couple, and a sailor. He explores issues of beauty, loneliness, and despair, expressed in an individual style that combines fashion, cinema, history and advertising.

The first major U.S. exhibition of Olaf's work recently opened at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, presenting the series from the book contextualized with previous work. The exhibit will remain on view until January 4, 2009. Olaf's work is also featured in another important exhibition at the Hague Museum of Photography (Fotomuseum Den Haag) in Holland. Erwin Olaf will be honored at the 2008 Lucie Awards for his achievement in advertising on Monday, October 20.

Media

Schedule

October 21, 2008 from 18:30

Artist(s)

Erwin Olaf

  • Facebook

    Reviews

    All content on this site is © their respective owner(s).
    New York Art Beat (2008) - About - Contact - Privacy - Terms of Use