Erwin Olaf, the renowned Dutch photographer known for his striking blend of cinematic and painterly aesthetics that capture the multiple dimensions of human existence, has died at the age of 64. Olaf’s artistic vision has a unique appeal, characterized by its meticulous stylization and sophistication. Beneath the surface, however, lies a profound exploration of societal dilemmas, taboos, and established norms. His works often delve into these themes, revealing their complexity through subtle, enigmatic nuances.
The photographer’s death was confirmed on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023, through a post on his official Instagram account. ‘It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved friend Erwin Olaf. A few weeks ago, Erwin had a lung transplant. The recovery seemed to be going very well. He suddenly became unwell on Wednesday morning and CPR was to no avail,’ his team shared.‘ We’re going to miss him terribly.’
Grief, Caroline, 2007 | image by Erwin Olaf courtesy of Houk Gallery
In his work, Erwin Olaf (find more here) elevates the mundane and unphotogenic aspects of our world. The subjects are illuminated in flawless lighting and draped in impeccably tailored clothing, set against carefully crafted backdrops. Behind this facade, however, there is often a subtle yet poignant detail — a slightly tilted head or glittering eyes — that subtly unveils a realm of mystery and emotional turmoil. The artist described his creations as ‘a perfect world with a crack.’
Olaf’s artistic journey has consistently focused on individuals at the fringes of society, including women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout his long career, the Dutch artist has actively advocated for equality, initially by capturing the pre-AIDS gay liberation movement in Amsterdam’s nightlife during the 1980s.
Grief, Grace, 2007 | image by Erwin Olaf courtesy of Houk Gallery
In 2019 Olaf became a Knight of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands after 500 works from his oeuvre were added to the collection of the Rijksmuseum (find more here). Over the years, he served as the official portrait artist for the Dutch royal family, and designed the national side of the euro coins for King Willem-Alexander in 2013.
‘Erwin Olaf saw beauty in every person. He was a key figure in history for his activism and role in the LGBTQIA+ communities and a photographer who defined his medium in the Netherlands. An artist of tremendous drive, his attention to detail was unparalleled,’ Taco Dibbits, Director of the Rijksmuseum, said in reaction to Olaf’s death. ‘The Rijksmuseum received Erwin Olaf’s core collection in 2018. We regarded him as a true friend, and we shall miss him.’
Meanwhile, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima took to Instagram to commemorate the photographer.‘The Netherlands has lost a unique, exceptionally talented photographer and a great artist,’ they shared.‘We will miss his friendship,’ they added.
Palm Springs, The Kite, 2018 | image by Erwin Olaf courtesy of Houk Gallery
Palm Springs, The Farewell, 2018 | image by Erwin Olaf
Rain, The Hair Dresser’s, 2004 | image by Erwin Olaf courtesy of Houk Gallery
By RISD CE Residential Interior Design Certificate student Emily Rives
RISD Continuing Education is excited to continue its online adult art and design learning. This fall, students from around the world can engage in fully asynchronous courses, which offer opportunities to explore new areas of interest, cultivate their creative potential, or develop new skills. For students interested in taking their learning to the next level, RISD CE now offers seven fully online certificate programs for adults:
RISD CE Certificate Programs are designed to facilitate personal and professional development by engaging students in sustained exploration and learning in specific creative disciplines. These non-credit online certificates equip students with skills, confidence, proficiency, and real-world experience to accelerate creative lives and work. With no entry requirements, students with any background can learn with motivated peers to develop their portfolio, broaden existing skills, explore a new career path or life pursuit, or start their own business and build the network that will help them do it.
Notably, RISD CE certificate programs make it possible for busy adult students to explore a new career direction while continuing to work in their current field, with more flexibility and affordability than a degree, and a focus on building marketable skills and a portfolio. Students complete their coursework at their own pace to fit into their unique life and schedule.
The newly updated Residential Interior Design certificate has become one of the most popular, giving motivated students with a variety of backgrounds the knowledge and skills to get started in a growing professional field. The program was recently redesigned to address the interests and pursuits of students, focusing on residential spaces like kitchens, baths, and outdoor living areas, while ensuring that coursework is streamlined and that the technology utilized aligns with industry standards. The outcome? Students from all over have enrolled to achieve their unique interior design goals, from taking on projects in their own homes to strengthening skills and marketability in related fields like theater set design.
There is still time to get started in a course or certificate program this fall! Courses begin October 30. Online courses for teen students are also available, including the year-round intensive Advanced Program Online.
To learn more, visit ce.risd.edu.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article RISD Continuing Education Unlocks Your Creative Potential With 7 Online Certificates appeared first on Colossal.
To design the book Anna-Rose collaborated with graphic designer Billy Paterson. Alongside the shoots, Anna-Rose had interviewed each subject, but when including the textual aspect of the project, Billy was keen to avoid making it feel like a directory. Instead of including people’s interviews next to their image, they were collated at the end of the book – allowing the images (at first) to speak for themselves. “I wanted it to be a bit like people watching, I suppose!” Billy says. In terms of overall aesthetic, Billy wanted the book to emulate the historical “almost theatrical” connotations of its title – a juxtaposition to the content that he found interesting – “I didn’t think that trackies, Buffalos and band tees were really the first things that sprung to mind when I thought of being ‘adorned’.” To create this sense of grandeur Billy opted for a deep red fabric hardcover, and Klim Type Foundry’s Signifier, for longform text.
The book is brimming with great outfits and insightful observations about style and identity. For Anna-Rose the portrait of her long-time friend Ocean stands out. Ocean’s portrait shows them in a black skin-tight body suit and cowboy hat, splayed elegantly on their bed, almost appearing mid-dance. In their interview, Ocean states “dressing up as well as other things like dancing, listening to music, seeing friends and meditating, all these things are self-care”, a sentiment that resonates with Anna-Rose: “I think part of the reason why I dress up every day is to make myself feel good and confident,” she says. Billy, on the other hand, has a soft spot for Belle’s photo for its “punchy” colour and composition, but also the ethos she outlines in her interview: “Someone once said to me you spend half your time on your bed and half your time on your feet, so I spend good money on bedding and shoes.”
Not only fuelled by the desire to show people at their most authentic, Anna-Rose also hopes To Be Adorned raises the importance of more conscious fashion choices – many of the people featured throughout have made their own clothes or sourced them secondhand. “The journey to finding that special thing can be equally as important as the garment itself,” she says. Billy also sees the project’s pertinence as a piece of history – a visual guide to a specific, if fleeting, moment in time. “While style is blurred, fragmented, and also informed by the internet, it also means that these things are constantly changing and fleeting,” he says. “So I feel that the book acts as a way to solidify and create a physical time capsule for these photos to live within and look back on over time.”
A legendary Latin pop artist with roots in Lawrence, Massachusetts, was recognized for his success by leaders of the Merrimack Valley city on Thursday, with a music and art center being named in his honor.
Nick Rivera Caminero — known by his stage name, Nicky Jam — was welcomed by local leaders as they announced the remodeling of the Adult Learning Center, which will be turned into a music and art center featuring the Lawrence native’s name.
The announcement was made shortly after 9 a.m. by Mayor Brian DePeña, accompanied by city officials and council members, as well as Lawrence Public Schools, the Lawrence Police Department and other delegations.
Nicky Jam, who is now 42, was born in Massachusetts and moved to Puerto Rico with his family as a child. He’s had a long, storied career with many big hits, including “Fiel a tu Piel,” “Travesuras,” and his acclaimed collaboration with Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón.”
Caminero grew up in poverty, watching his father fight for “the American dream,” he said. Now, he said, the street where he grew up will also bear his name.
“We literally didn’t have money to pay rent on this street,” he said. The “landlord” would knock on the door and my dad would hide and tell me not to open it… we had to live month after month… it’s incredible that now this happens on that street where we couldn’t pay rent.”
As part of his speech, Nicky Jam said that at the age of eight, he found a flyer for a high school talent event in Lawrence and decided to attend, even though he was not of the required age.
When they saw him rapping, he got his first applause and knew he wanted to do that for the rest of his life. Then, when he moved to Puerto Rico, he was influenced by Caribbean music, dance hall and, while working in a supermarket, he was discovered and signed his first contract.
“I was very young and everything happened very quickly,” he said. “I have been on drugs, I was in jail, I went to Colombia to look for a second chance and I came back like the Phoenix. I rose from the ashes and here I am today in Lawrence, happy. Thank you to my dad for making me here, in this beautiful city, and to the people of Lawrence, thank you, because, although I no longer live here, they give me love and respect. I live grateful.”
Part of this report has been translated from Spanish
