Olaf Hajek: Precious

Working in the tradition chartedby André Breton’s essay on “Le surréalisme et la peinture,” Haj ek createsfantasy worlds, drawing on a searching study of the human subconscious asrevealed in dreams. He is a magicianof color and a superb storyteller. Olaf Hajek (b. Rendsburg, 1965; lives and works in Berlin) is o ne of theworld’s most successful illustrators. Over the past few years, he has also built areputation as visual artist with paintings in acrylic on wood or cardboard. Thespellbinding charm of his drawings and textured paintings derives from theirfolkloristic naïveté and fresh spontaneity. His work has appeared in newspapersincluding the New York Times and London’s The Guardian. With their multilayered compositions and virtually endlesswealth of detail, Olaf Hajek’s pictures invite us on a voyage into the unknown.With essays by Oliver Hilmes and Taiye Selasi, among others.