So many words have been written to try and describe Dutch photographic artist, Erwin Olaf’s work – his “highly-polished, precise and atmospheric visual style,” his emphasis on precision (“painterly lighting, flawless hair and make-up, settings that create an allure of serenity”), “his highly theatrical compositions…complex and dramatic narratives,” “cinematic interpretation of photography,” “incredibly-powerful and expressive tableaux,” and “nuanced vision”.
If you ask Olaf to describe his work, his answer is far simpler. “I’m a stage photographer,” he says. “I use photography to stage my own fantasies, my own dream world. As a boy, I dreamt a lot. I like to create a world that doesn’t exist.” Many of Olaf’s photographic fantasies have a purpose. “Most of the time, I am trying to tell a story. It’s a fantasy combined with…
