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Erwin Olaf — Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02
Erwin Olaf

Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02

2017

Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02 places a solitary figure within a meticulously constructed interior that speaks simultaneously of global modernity and quietly suffocating isolation. Captured in 2017 as part of Erwin Olaf's acclaimed Shanghai series, the work deploys the Dutch artist's signature command of cinematic light and psychological tension to transform an architecturally precise space into something deeply ambiguous. The composition is still to the point of holding its breath, the subject rendered with a cool, observational clarity that refuses easy sentiment while drawing the viewer inexorably into an unanswered question about the nature of connection and solitude in contemporary urban life. Olaf's mastery of archival pigment printing is fully evident here, with tonal gradations rendered at a level of fidelity that rewards close, sustained viewing. The 75.7 by 56.9 centimetre format is deliberately intimate, resisting the monumental scale that defines much contemporary photography and instead encouraging a more private, considered encounter. The palette is restrained without being austere, and every element within the frame, from the quality of available light to the placement of objects, has been choreographed with a precision that reflects the artist's background across fashion, advertising, and fine art. Available as part of an edition of twelve and signed by the artist, this work represents a compelling acquisition for collectors with serious interests in contemporary figurative photography. Olaf occupies a singular position in the medium, represented by Hamiltons Gallery and held in significant institutional collections worldwide. Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02 stands as a concentrated and quietly powerful example of his ongoing investigation into loneliness, modernity, and the emotional textures of contemporary existence.

Medium
Archival pigment print
Overall
Signed
Yes
Location
Hamiltons Gallery, London

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About this work

Erwin Olaf, Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02, 2017

Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02 places a solitary figure within a meticulously constructed interior that speaks simultaneously of global modernity and quietly suffocating isolation. Captured in 2017 as part of Erwin Olaf's acclaimed Shanghai series, the work deploys the Dutch artist's signature command of cinematic light and psychological tension to transform an architecturally precise space into something deeply ambiguous. The composition is still to the point of holding its breath, the subject rendered with a cool, observational clarity that refuses easy sentiment while drawing the viewer inexorably into an unanswered question about the nature of connection and solitude in contemporary urban life. Olaf's mastery of archival pigment printing is fully evident here, with tonal gradations rendered at a level of fidelity that rewards close, sustained viewing. The 75.7 by 56.9 centimetre format is deliberately intimate, resisting the monumental scale that defines much contemporary photography and instead encouraging a more private, considered encounter. The palette is restrained without being austere, and every element within the frame, from the quality of available light to the placement of objects, has been choreographed with a precision that reflects the artist's background across fashion, advertising, and fine art. Available as part of an edition of twelve and signed by the artist, this work represents a compelling acquisition for collectors with serious interests in contemporary figurative photography. Olaf occupies a singular position in the medium, represented by Hamiltons Gallery and held in significant institutional collections worldwide. Shanghai, Huai Hai 116, Portrait 02 stands as a concentrated and quietly powerful example of his ongoing investigation into loneliness, modernity, and the emotional textures of contemporary existence.

Medium
Archival pigment print
Dimensions
overall: 75.7 x 56.9 cm
Year
2017
Edition
of 12
Signed
Hand-signed by the artist
Seen at
Hamiltons Gallery, London

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Collected by

Alex Capecelatro