Erwin Olaf: Celda de Emociones

From February until May 2016 the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo of Málaga presented a survey of Erwin Olaf’s work from the last decade. In Cell of Emotions, the exhibition curated by Fernando Francés, visitors were be able to admire more than sixty pieces that document the Dutch artist’s output since 2005. Though known as one of the leading exponents of contemporary photography, he has also produced videos and installations. Olaf, who has shot several major advertising campaigns for well-known brands, uses a combination of photojournalism and studio photography to recreate situations that question the spectator’s feelings, characterised by a meticulous mise-en-scène where reality mingles with fiction and a back-to-basics philosophy that dictates a sparing use of photo touch-ups. Unbridled consumerism and social isolation are among the recurring themes in his oeuvre.