I Am

Ultimate survey of Erwin Olaf's work, one of Europe's most important photographers.

On the occasion of Erwin Olaf's sixtieth birthday, the photographer presents the first extensive overview of his work. The fist-sized book with no less than 240 photographs shows both his earliest black-and-white images and his iconic free work, up to the latest – and until now unpublished – series he made in Shanghai and Palm Springs.

This chronological overview lays bare the unique vision of the artist and his evolution during the past four decades, from brutal provocateur in the Amsterdam nightlife to royal portraitist and master of stillness. Olaf masters the art of photography down to the smallest details and offers a wry, penetrating commentary on the context of his work.

The photo book accompanies a large retrospective at several locations. The start will be given with a double exhibition in the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, the Fotomuseum in The Hague (from February 16th to May 12th 2019) and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (from July 2nd to September 22nd 2019). The exhibition also travels to other locations in Europe, China, South Korea and the United States.

The publication includes an introduction by Wim van Sinderen (Fotomuseum Den Haag) and texts by Francis Hodgson (Professor Culture of Photography at the University of Brighton), Mattie Boom (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam), Laura Stamps (Gemeentemuseum Den Haag), W.M. Hunt (author and former photo gallerist) and Lesley A. Martin (Aperture).