The Collective by Erik Lijzenga

Artist list

Erik Lijzenga

For the fifth exhibition in collaboration between Ucic Art Jewellery and MaS Studio, we are delighted to present to our audience a new series of works specially created by Dutch jewellery artist Erik Lijzenga.

Erik is an obsessive collector, meticulous organiser, and relentless replicator, deeply passionate about artistic creation. He holds an equal love for every piece of so-called "trash" that finds its way into his hands—after all, to Erik, each object possesses its own unique essence. Collecting and replicating objects form two parallel lines in his practice. Encountering, picking up, categorizing, observing,analyzing,reorganizing, replicating, and collecting—these actions form the core of Erik’s creative process, all in pursuit of highlighting the intrinsic nature of objects.

Fascinated by the relationship between objects and ourselves, Erik constantly strives to understand them on a deeper level. He tells stories—stories of their origin, production, and circulation, of their ownership, use, and eventual abandonment. He also narrates tales of habits, cultures, and places. His collection is diverse, ranging from discarded lighters and broken teacups to colorful plastic fragments. He collects not just objects themselves but also the traces of time etched upon them.

Erik has a remarkable ability to reveal their raw beauty. By devoting time and effort to meticulously replicating these objects—including their flaws—he elevates them to an almost sacred status, dissecting their forms, tracing their details, and preserving their marks. Though these objects may have long since been removed from their original context, they are reborn, taking on new roles and writing new chapters. Now, they stand as ambassadors of the lost and found.