Croatian Painter Hrvoje Majer to Make Aberdeen Art Fair Debut

Hrvoje Majer has always seen his art as a process, discovering its meaning along the way. The Zagreb-based painter is making his Aberdeen Art Fair debut later this month. He works in oil, moving between figurative portraits and looser abstraction, exploring questions of identity.

His new collection mixes existing work with a new series of Scottish landscapes, painted in response to years of visiting a country he has long admired. Two paintings anchor the show. Private Dancer explores “the different identities we carry throughout our lives and the subtle tension between how we are seen and who we truly are.” Nora, a single-figure portrait, is the one Majer says best sums up his work: “Although it portrays a single figure, it is intended to feel universal rather than personal, leaving space for every viewer to bring their own experiences and interpretation.”

“Most paintings start with a feeling, a question or a moment of curiosity, and I discover the work as I paint. I see the creative process as an exploration rather than an attempt to illustrate an idea, which is why I hope viewers bring their own interpretations to the finished piece.”

Conversations about the ideas

Majer has visited Scotland many times before, even if this is his first time at the fair itself. “There is a boldness, depth and strong sense of identity that resonates with me, both in its people and its landscapes. I’m looking forward to returning, sharing my work with a wider Scottish audience and, above all, having conversations with visitors about the ideas behind the paintings.”

You’ll find Hrvoje on Stand 2 at Aberdeen Art Fair. Now in its 14th year, the event runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August at Aberdeen Music Hall on Union Street. A preview evening opens the fair on Friday from 6pm to 9pm, with general admission running 10am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free.