MACHAS

Meissen x Olaf Hajek

Olaf Hajek is a master of colour and an eclectic storyteller, and his collaboration with German porcelain manufacturer Meissen is a fascinating synergy of influences that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination, art and craftsmanship.

The five vases, produced in a limited edition of ten pieces each, draw on the imagery of fantastic gardens and the secrets they guard and depict exaggerated personas in brilliant colours that are the hallmark of Olaf Hajek’s much-admired style.

Olaf embraces aspects of South American folklore, mythology, religion, history and geography with effortless warmth, liberating their evocative power such as the Rorschach-like portraits with festively decorated hats of the “Mr and Mrs Butterfly” vase.

The vivacious dialogue between seemingly distant worlds is taken to another level as Olaf’s colourful and surreal compositions grace Meissen designs created at the turn of the last century: the “Afternoon Garden” vase shape was first designed in 1890, whilst a 1927 shape suits as a perfect projection surface for Hajek’s imaginative “Lion Garden” fairy tale.

All vases have been designed by Olaf Hajek and hand-painted by Meissen’s master artisans. The entire collection is now on display at the “Blossom And Fruits” exhibition at the Museum Haus Löwenberg in Gegenbach, Germany.

See more of Olaf’s work here.