As well as iconic series from Olaf’s oeuvre, the retrospective will also present never-before-seen works by the multimedia artist, both older and recent. These include the extraordinary Self-Portrait with Lungs (2023), which has yet to be shown in a museum, and work made during his illness. The exhibition will also show the edgy, underground nature of the work of Erwin Olaf, who was also known for exploring subversive and activist themes.

Although he had been suffering from pulmonary emphysema for some time, Erwin Olaf died unexpectedly last year at the age of 64, after a lung transplant. He was one of the Netherlands’ most influential photographers, known for his bold style and staged photographs. His work explored the human body and themes such as sexuality and impermanence; later, man’s vulnerability and loneliness increasingly came to the fore. Olaf was a tireless fighter for equal rights for all, be it an elderly woman, a little person, queer people, people of colour, people with Down syndrome or the average person. This aspect of his work will also be highlighted in the exhibition.