About the artwork
This photograph by Erwin Olaf is part of an exclusive series produced for IDEAT magazine, which was the subject of a charity auction. A still life in essence, this work is as much a tribute to art history as to design, since it features two objects by great designers: the Scarabée Vase by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez and the Bell Table by Sebastian Herkner. This luxurious composition contrasts with the decaying wall in the background, reinforcing the fragility and decay of all things that the memento mori evokes. Photographed in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, where Camille Claudel was interned, the series highlights the Chabrolian paradox between splendor and destruction, revealing the artist's social questioning.
Expert opinion
This photograph by Erwin Olaf demonstrates his mastery of the codes of photography and art history. It reveals his sensitive aesthetic, the singularity of which justifies his worldwide recognition and growing popularity.
About the artist
Erwin Olaf (1959 - 2023) is a Dutch photographer. His work borrows from the codes of both photojournalism and fashion photography, which he has mastered to perfection. In 1988, the photographer was awarded the Young European Photographer prize for his Chessmen series, marking his entry onto the international scene. Preferring to work in series, the artist tells tragic or sordid stories, constructing them through strong contrasts between photographed subjects, lights and objects. His work has been the subject of group and solo exhibitions worldwide, including at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Bilbao Art Center and the Museum of Modern Art in Moscow.
“I create a highly stylized appearance in my photographs that draws the viewer in... once they are "baited" by the "beauty", I hope they understand the second message or concept of [...] each series.”
Additional info
Signed
Dated
Framed
Proof of authenticity
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