AMSTERDAM.- The exhibition Erwin Olaf – Freedom has been a great success; the Stedelijk Museum concludes it with over 375,000 visitors. Since the opening of the exhibition on October 10 last year, visitor interest has remained undiminished. Due to the continued interest, the museum extended the exhibition by five weeks, until Easter Monday. This makes it one of the best-attended exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum ever.

This first museum retrospective following the sudden passing of Erwin Olaf two years ago was a rich tribute to the artist he was. In addition to well-known artworks and series by Olaf, the exhibition also featured lesser-known work, such as his early journalistic photographs, which have rarely been shown, as well as videos and sculptures. His series Im Wald, April Fool, and Muzen were on display in a museum for the first time. Also impressive were the very last works Erwin Olaf created during the period in which he received his lung transplant: For Life and Self-Portrait 01, 2023.

Accompanying the exhibition was an extensive publication that placed Erwin Olaf as an artist in an art-historical and societal perspective, as well as the one-off Erwin Olaf Magazine as an ode to his philosophy and legacy.

Rein Wolfs, Director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: “Looking back, it is wonderful to see that interest in his work is very much alive. The public has embraced the exhibition; just look at the many reactions we have received. Erwin Olaf is missed as a person and as an artist, but was present once again through this overview. The exhibition is now over, but a wonderful memory remains.”

VISITOR REACTIONS

Visitor surveys show that visitors rated the exhibition with a 9, an exceptionally high score. Some reactions: ‘(...) completely overwhelmed by the beautiful exhibition’, ‘Great work, the entire exhibition is a must-see!’, ‘(...) phenomenal - stunning, moving, special photos from all years with excellent commentary’, ‘Stayed for four hours’, and ‘Beautiful retrospective, a lovely tribute too. His life as well as his development as a photographer and as a person are portrayed very beautifully. Highly recommended!’

FROM THE PRESS

The great public interest went hand in hand with glowing reviews in the media. The NRC gave the exhibition four stars and wrote: 'With a major exhibition, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam not only acknowledges the appreciation Olaf already had during his lifetime, but Freedom above all invites you to look again.' De Volkskrant also gave four stars and said: 'With this exhibition, Olaf's work is given a stamp of eternal value after all.' De Telegraaf called it 'a magnificent retrospective'.

The exhibition Erwin Olaf – Freedom is organized by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, curated by Charl Landvreugd in collaboration with Studio Erwin Olaf and Marcel Schmalgemeijer.