Erwin Olaf, on Beauty and Fall plot
The Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf is on the eve of an important year: his latest photo series Hope, Grief and Rain seem to give him an international breakthrough and important international museums are showing interest for the first time. His work has been criticized since the 1980s. It would only shock and therefore not be art. But now that major art dealers from America and Japan are eager to invest in new work by Olaf, the years of struggling seem to have resulted in serious recognition. And this is precisely at a time in his life when Erwin Olaf has to contend with a debilitating disease – emphysema – for which he has to manage his energy carefully. It is unclear whether his body can keep up with his work pace.