There are artists who are inextricably linked to the Groninger Museum. Erwin Olaf was one of them. His Chessmen series, exhibited at the museum in 1987/88, made his name internationally. The successful exhibition Silver, a 25-year survey of his career, opened here in 2003. In 2016, Olaf made a series of photographs for the Groninger Museum inspired by the sculptures of Auguste Rodin.
Erwin Olaf made his debut in the 1980s as a photojournalist but soon began specialising in studio photography. His studio work was characterised by a broad range of themes, which included sexuality, mortality, and an uncontrollable urge to shock the audience with humour and sarcasm.
When I’m dead, I think it would be a shame if nobody tries to see if I could be one of the immortals. But if that’s not possible, no hard feelings. Erwin Olaf