Erwin Olaf / Constructing worlds

Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf in conversation with Maria Abramenko.

Your work has a very particular aesthetics, a wonderland dream world if I may, where does it come from?

Thank you for your compliment. I do try to create my own world in a way. I am a perfectionist, and to achieve this view it is easier for me to create a world instead of working in the ‘real’ world. Although I must admit that in recent years I have worked more and more on location (the ‘real’ world) and this has liberated me in some ways. The inspiration for my photography comes mostly from the world around me, from my travels, films I see, books I read, people I meet. A second factor is that what you see first, the constructed world, is designed to guide you to the idea/thought that is in the artwork. So the shell is a roadmap to what I am trying to convey.

What camera do you usually use?

I have used a Hasselblad for many years now. Since I work digitally I use Phase 1, IQ digital back.

In my understanding David Bowie had an important role in your life, can you tell us about it?

I was a huge fan of David Bowie in my younger years, his music inspired me to be a rockstar for a very very short lived moment in the 70s, his image and fluidity inspired my view of gender.

One project you have always on your mind but didn’t release yet?

I cannot say too much about that, because usually when it is on my mind but not done yet it means the idea has not ‘cooked’ enough in my mind. I would like to further continue working on a series of portraits of Jewish and Moroccan people. I did this in the Netherlands and would like to expand this to other countries where there still are lively minority communities.

What are you working on these days?

Mostly I am working on my upcoming exhibitions in Brescia, (at Paci), in Toronto (Izzy Gallery), Munich (KunstHalle) and Paris (Rabouan Moussion) and Korea (Suwon Ipark Museum).

You may also like

Between life and death / Nicola Samorì

Art&Culture | Interview
Deformed, defaced and destroyed, Nicola Samorì’s obscure, Baroque-inspired oil paintings are skillful reproductions of classical portraits and still lifes on canvas, wood or copper, systemically assaulted by the artist’s hand or knife in an attempt to provoke the status quo of the history of art. Interview by Angelica Moschin.

Diotis Thomas / The Dragon’s Gaze

Art&Culture | Interview
A spotlight on Greek artist Diotis Thomas, an artist who is constantly exploring new means of expression, with his output including wildlife, nature, science, anatomy and painting.

Marc Bijl / Complex dilemma of ambiguous minds

Art&Culture | Soundscapes
New wave art by Marc Bijl: Maria Abramenko in conversation with the Dutch artist, discussing music, dystopian thoughts, the dark retro future and his art practice.