Homage Erwin Olaf (Palm Springs), 2025, from the series Don't Stop Dreaming, is Ruben van Schalm's tribute to the late Erwin Olaf, his friend and mentor. It was made in Palm Springs, where Olaf once photographed his own series.
Their collaboration began with a letter Van Schalm sent to Olaf, offering himself as a model. It led to roles in Olaf's work, including the series Fall, the short film La Tristesse Riche and the historical tableau Leidens Ontzet, now in the collection of Museum De Lakenhal. In 2020 Olaf wrote the foreword to Van Schalm's monograph Paradise:
“The artist has not only succeeded in capturing the beauty of man, but also the fragility of our surroundings… I am particularly curious and eagerly looking forward to seeing how Ruben's work will develop over the years to come.”
Edition
Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta 315 gsm
27.9 × 35.6 cm (11 × 14 in)
Edition of 10 + 2 AP, signed and numbered, with certificate of authenticity
The full proceeds of the edition were donated to the Foundation Erwin Olaf, which supports freedom of expression, cultural participation and arts education, including grants for vocational art students.
Olaf's retrospective Erwin Olaf: Freedom was on view at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam from October 11, 2025 to March 1, 2026 (Stedelijk).
Watch the film on Homage Erwin Olaf (Palm Springs) and Don't Stop Dreaming.
