Name/Title
(1988) Buro GVO, Veilig Verder! Positief & Negatief – Samen, Erwin Olaf Photograph, NetherlandsDescription
Buro GVO, Veilig Verder! Positief & Negatief – Samen, 1988
HIV/AIDS prevention and safer-sex information poster
Concept: Menne Vellinga GVN
Photograph: Erwin Olaf, 1985
Publisher: Buro GVO, Amsterdam
Printer: Rotor Offsetdruk BV
Funding: Ministerie van Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en Cultuur
Country: Netherlands
Offset-printed poster
This Dutch HIV/AIDS prevention poster features a black-and-white photograph by Erwin Olaf depicting a nude adult man engaged in an ambiguous erotic encounter with one or more partially concealed figures. A hand covers the man’s eyes, while other hands hold his arms and touch or obscure his genital area. The image evokes intimacy, sexual surrender, restraint, vulnerability, and trust.
The orange headline reads Veilig Verder!—approximately “Continue safely” or “Move forward safely.” Beneath it, the blue text Positief & negatief – samen means “Positive and negative—together,” referring to sexual or intimate relationships between HIV-positive and HIV-negative people. The poster advertises the AIDS Info telephone service.
Published by Buro GVO Amsterdam in 1988 with financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Culture, the poster was developed within the institutional environment of Dutch AIDS prevention directed toward gay men. Its message presents continued erotic and relational life across HIV-status difference as possible through safer-sex information and shared responsibility.
The photograph is dated 1985, while the poster was issued in 1988. Although its date, square format, and visual language resemble Olaf’s early Squares series, no authoritative source located thus far identifies the photograph by title or assigns it to that series.Create Date
July 29, 2025Update Date
October 15, 2026