THE WINGED MOON
OLAF HAJEK
it is not the end of the world
&
the sad song
Artist Statement
In today's world, marked by crises, the effects of climate change and the constant presence of
social media, the concept of comfort takes on a new dimension. In such times, comfort can come from solidarity and cohesion within communities. People seek ways to support each other and show empathy, whether through direct help or by sharing experiences and stories. The challenge is to find ways to stay connected and promote positive change despite the
stressful circumstances. In my pictures, I show the connection between people. Many of my works emphasise the interaction and interplay between individuals, often through symbolic representations that promote community and solidarity. These connections are not only emotional but also existential, as they reflect the way people interact with each other in an increasingly alienated world. A central element of my philosophy is the idea that humans are in constant exchange with nature. I use materials and techniques that establish a direct relationship with the natural world to emphasise the intertwining of these two worlds. This is often reflected in the use of organic forms and the depiction of landscapes that portray humans as part of the ecosystem.
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 1960s on account of the technique with which he creates artificial patina. They retain valuable graphic feel despite their painted appearance. Olaf Hajek is a painter immersed in a world of surreal fantasy and melancholic beauty. Drawing from diverse references such as 60s African studio photography, Renaissance perspective, and the Dutch still lifes of the 1600s, his work is underpinned by the colour and texture of folkloric imagery. Hajek’s most recent body of work is a hypnotic tangle of botanical forms and colour. Rendered in acrylic on wood panels, Hajek uses distressed and exquisitely fine mark-making to create a rich surface patina. Woven into the fabric of the work, the image of the flower is used as a seductive yet contradictory metaphor for fertility, poison, growth, and decay. Much like the Dutch painters of the 16th–18th century, his work looks at the brevity of life through capturing the vital essence of living forms and the continuing struggle for life, where beauty is made more precious because of its transience. Through juxtaposing the human figure with his incandescent kaleidoscope of flora and fauna, Hajek looks at humanity's fragile relationship with nature and its cycles of birth and death. Olaf Hajek is currently one of the most internationally renowned and sought-after illustrators and visual artists. His stylistically unique work can be seen in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vogue, as well as on stamps for Great Britain’s Royal Mail. www.olafhajek.com