Erik Lijzenga - Lost and Found

Erik Lijzenga is working on his master's thesis at the Idar-Oberstein University of Applied Sciences during the "Lost and Found" exhibition. The exhibition opens with a collection of materials and at the finissage there will be a collection of (jewellery) works created from these materials.

The three and a half months of research at the Jakob Bengel Foundation are essentially driven by his motivations, which also drive him during his Master's degree in Gemstones and Jewellery.

Found objects form the basis of my practice and are part of my daily life. I see so much beauty in small or broken things that I find on the street or elsewhere. Abandoned and forever incomplete, I try to give these lost treasures a new context. Will I ever be able to say goodbye to these beautiful treasures?
My obsession with pearls and the extensive collection I have built up over time - for me, the pearl is a metaphor for human ingenuity, individuality and craftsmanship. I want to share my collection with others and show the beauty and complexity of something that seems so simple. And can this value be transferred to other objects?

Erik Lijzenga