Olaf Hajek
Olaf Hajek is one of Germany’s most renowned illustrators and has, through countless works, developed his personal and frequently awarded style.
Hajek decomposes the borders between authenticity and thought, South American folklore, mythology, religion, history, and geography. More than anything else his work explores the opposition between imagination and reality in the context of western cultures.
Hajek focuses enthusiastically on wonder, heroic acts, hallucinations, and fairytale motifs. With artistic virtuosity and intellectual calculation he relocates and recombines various captions of reality, planting them within new and exciting mystical connotative frameworks. Disproportional figures are often depicted posed in front of theatrical fore- and backgrounds.
Hajek’s images are generally created by applying acrylic to cardboard, and resemble Cuban advertising posters from the 1960’s on account of the technique with which he creates artificial patina. They retain valuable graphic feel despite their painted appearance
Biography
*1965 born in Rendsburg (DE).
/ 1993 Degree in Graphic Design at the Fachhochschule Düsseldorf
/ currently living and working in Berlin
Awards
2003 Silver Award UK
2003 Art Directors Club Europe, Gold Award
2003 Art Directors Club Germany, Silver Award
2004 Leadaward Gold 2004 Leadaward Silver
Publications
1998-2008 American Illustration 18-26
2005 Illustration Now!,Taschen
2005-2008 Best Illustrators Worldwide, Lürzers Archive Special
2007 Freistil 12
Exhibitions
2004 Group Exhibition NOTANGO, Berlin
2007 Group Exhibition BBAX07, Buenos Aires
2006 Illustrative Preview, Galerie Johanssen, Berlin
2007 Illustrative 07 Berlin
2007 Illustrative 07 Paris
2008 Maskerade, Galerie Johanssen, Berlin
2009 Illustrative 09 Berlin
Artist Portfolio
- whiteblack - 2010 - Acrylic on wood panel - 50 x 70 cm
- foret noir - 2010 -Acrylic on cardboard
- natureman 4 - 2010 - Acrylic on cardboard
- symbols myths - 2010 - Acrylic on cardboard - 43 x 49 cm
- symbols humankind - 2010 - Acrylic on cardboard - 43 x 49 cm
- symbols patterns - 2010 - Acrylic on cardboard - 43 x 49 cm
- symbols divinity all - 2010 - Acrylic on cardboard - 43 x 49 cm
- voyage voyage - 2010 - Acrylic on wood panel - 70 x 49 cm
- outside my window - 2010 - Acrylic on wood panel - 60 x 80 cm
- foretnoir 2 - 2010 - Acrylic on Paper - 50 x 70 cm
- mothernature - 2010 - Acrylic on wood panel - 50 x 70 cm
- stillife - 2010 - Acrylic on Paper - 50 x 70 cm
- flowerhead - 2010 - Acrylic on wood panel - 60 x 80 cm
- darkness is my closest friend - 2010 - Acrylic on cardboard - 60 x 80 cm
- Natureman 2 - 2009 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 60 cm
- Natureman 3 - 2009 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 70 cm
- Iris - 2009 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 70 cm
- Underwaterlillies - 2009 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 60 cm
- Playground - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 62 x 48 cm
- Blackantoinette - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 35 x 47 cm
- Camp - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Flowerhead II - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Dancefight - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 40 x 40 cm
- Natureman - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 58 x 48 cm
- Welcome - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 63 x 43 cm
- Deadbird - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 39 cm
- Paradise I - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Paradise II - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 40 x 50 cm
- Paradise III - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Paradise IV - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Masked girl - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 49 x 69 cm
- Flowerhead - 2008 - Acrylic on cardboard - 45 x 40 cm
- Begegnung - 2007 - Acrylic on cardboard - 70 x 50 cm
- Naturae morte - 2007 - Acrylic on cardboard - 62 x 48 cm
- Hidden girls - 2007 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 68 cm
- Mothernature - 2007 - Acrylic on cardboard - 40 x 30 cm
- Underwaterballet - 2007 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 60 cm
- Last - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 40 x 45 cm
- Flowers - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 30 x 20 cm
- Vulkan - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Baum - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 45 x 40 cm
- Outsidermeeting - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 50 x 40 cm
- Queen - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 30 x 30 cm
- Fashion Animals - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 40 x 35 cm
- Spaziergang - 2006 - Acrylic on cardboard - 40 x 35 cm
Please contact gallery for availability.
