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Grief

April 19, 2007- June 2, 2007

Reception: April 26, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Erwin Olaf

Hasted Hunt

529 W 20th St

HASTED HUNT s pleased to announce new work by Dutch photographer and filmmaker, Erwin Olaf in an exhibition titled, GRIEF, from April 19th to June 2, 2007. This is Mr. Olaf’s second show with Hasted Hunt following his successful debut RAIN and HOPE.

GRIEF is the third and final installment of a trilogy. These are enigmatic narratives and portraits, mostly of women, caught in private moments. The décor, the hairstyles, the clothes, and the affect all reference the early 1960’s in the US. The color palette further underscores this. Like his earlier work, these images are carefully staged in studio settings. This is not reportage. GRIEF is the last episode in the series followingRAIN and HOPE which were called "mysterious and touching" by Ken Johnson writing for The New York Times.

The models here seem caught in intensely private moments of reflection or indecision. Up close it appears that some of them have been crying. The reason for these tears is never explicit. Similarly the colors are slightly drained. The images almost seem intended for a slick lifestyle editorial portfolio, but instead they are unexpectedly moody and haunting. The impact is unsettling.

The artist has been influenced by the styles of the early years of the John F. Kennedy White House and inspired by the social change of the 60’s. A specific inspiration was a well-known 1961 Mark Shaw portrait of Jackie Kennedy. Although a small child in the 1960’s, Olaf has a powerful early memory of both Kennedys. He is now struck by the seeming globalization of the world, the rise of feminism and the middle class, and in particular, the pervasive influence of TV. A video accompanies the exhibition.

In the past year Olaf has had solo shows in Antwerp, Utrecht, Prague, Brisbane, Milan, and New York, and been part of group shows from Montreal to Seoul, Beijing and Paris. The artist is unique: funny, inventive, ironic, sensual, and often shocking. He manages to combine his artistic and commercial careers simultaneously, bringing a contemporary imagination and technical ingenuity to a range of projects. In the past year, he has creative two surreal editorial portfolios for The New York Times Magazine that brought him to the attention of an American audience and a similarly startling Christmas fashion spread in the UK for The London Sunday Times.

Mr. Olaf lives and works in The Netherlands.

There will be a reception for the artist on Thursday, April 26th from 6 to 8 PM. The exhibition GRIEF by Erwin Olaf is supported by the Consulate General of The Netherlands.

Books and DVDs related to artists in this show

Location map  Gallery Hasted Hunt Address 529 W 20th St, 3rd floor New York (Chelsea) NY, 10011 United States Phone 212-627-0006 Fax 212-627-5117 Hours Tue-Sat 11-6 Nearby: All 23 galleries at 529 W 20th St

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