Erwin Olaf: In Motion, In Stillness

The series Dance in Close-Up captures the tension of the body in motion, presenting close-ups of dancers. In these images, which explore the tension between classical beauty and contemporary concerns, the body becomes an ambiguous territory. Here, the movement of dance is not merely a physical act but a language that questions and redefines the limits of the corporeal. The series invites a deep, almost intimate gaze into the body as a space of resistance and a vehicle of emotional expression. In these images, motif and methodology converge. Dance relates to the approach Erwin Olaf took when composing and executing his photographs. In his own words, “My images are like a play: they are choreographed, planned, every gesture and every expression is intentional.”

This theatrical aspect is most clearly seen in Shanghai, a more subtle series, where the focus shifts to the psychology of space and cultural codes. Through carefully constructed scenes, Olaf explores the modernization of China, but also the silences and tensions that emerge in a society undergoing transformation. These images, oscillating between portraits and broad urban scenes, reveal the conflict between progress and tradition.