by Ashleigh Kane
The Dutch photographer – renowned for his carefully constructed imagery and a hyperreal take on his craft – shines in a new survey of his work.
Photographer Erwin Olaf's cinematic interpretation of photography has long-since captured the imaginations of his audience since he stepped onto the art scene in the late 80s. Constructing ‘dreamworlds’ through elaborate set design and hair and make up, the photographer’s work has ranged from a "certain disengagement" in his Hotel series ("The Hotel series is about alienation and the subtle range of dark emotions that they can give a person," Olaf told us in 2011) to the hyperreality of his Berlin series, where the Dutch photographer found himself inspired by a juxtaposition between Berlin's underground gay culture and its not-so-distant horrific historical past. A photography veteran who has shot campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta, as well as magazine spreads for Jalouse and The New York Times, Olaf’s work is currently being surveyed in a New York exhibition titled Waiting. Held in celebration of the release of the artist’s latest monograph Volume II (following the 2008 debut of Volume I) the show will see a selection of Olaf’s highly stylised work, including his film projects, on display until the end of February.
Waiting is on show at New York’s Hasted Kraeutler Art Gallery until 28 February, 2015