Artist statement Eddy Kaijser
I believe it is essential to reconnect people with the natural world. Nature is a miracle—its beauty transcends intellect and speaks directly to the heart. This deep appreciation inspires my work, where I explore and express our relationship with nature through art.
We live in an Anthropocene world that has permanently changed nature as it once was. There is no way back. We know that everything in the world is connected by constant non-linear processes connected by a network of relationships. Philosopher Bruno Latour calls it ‘Gaia is War’ where people, economies and viruses, for example, determine the course of nature.
My work reflects a growing awareness of the devastating impact of our linear economy. Through my art, I visualize this concern, portraying Anthropocene delusions—human-made illusions that shape and often harm our environment. My artworks embody dilemmas: I use materials created by humans that simultaneously contribute to nature’s destruction. To counteract this, I strive for circularity, rejecting linear waste processes. I recycle my own work repeatedly, incorporating plastic bags and bottles collected from Dutch rivers to create temporary yet poetic images of our Anthropocene era. My mission remains clear: to use art as a catalyst for awareness and change.
For 25 years, I have exhibited worldwide, with a primary focus on the Netherlands. I collaborate with citizens, municipalities, NGOs, businesses, and water councils, engaging in co-creation, community art, workshops, masterclasses, and independent projects.
Awards
2020 Rotterdam Business Innovation Award
2009 Dutch Design Award
Nominations
2020 Ring of Swings - Best Building of the Year2021 - ArchDaily
2009 Finalist Best Spatial Design, DDA
2006 MS Research Art Award
Presentations
2019 Architrip.nl – Urban development is The Netherlands
2015 European Leadership Summit Burning Man, Amsterdam
2014 Matadero Madrid/On design in public space
2013 Museon The Hague/City of the future
2012 Innovation Estafette Horizon 2020 Amsterdam/Smart Cities
2010 Dutch Design Awards/Red Dot Design Museum Essen, Germany
2010 Rotterdam Pioneers/Clear Drinks at Watt Rotterdam
2009 Pecha Kucha Night at The Hague
2009 WMF Berlin Germany Pecha Kucha Night
2009 Museum Arts & Crafts Budapest Hungary Pecha Kucha Night
2009 Guggenheim Museum Bilbao Spain - Special selection of Pecha Kucha Night
2007 Pecha Kucha Night at Off Corso Rotterdam
2007 Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam
2006 Pecha Kucha Night at Locus 010 Rotterdam
Publications
2025 Grote Nederlandse Kunst Kalender
2023 De Aanschouw
2022 Hilton Art Lab Publication
2014 Pop-up City: City Making in a Fluid World, ISBN 978-90-6369-354-1
2012 Mothership yearbook
2012 Rotterdam Istanbul Express issue September and October
2009 Dutch Design Jaarboek 2009 (NAI)
2009 Route du Nord 2009
2009 Blauwe Kamer, magazine voor landschapsarchitectuur en stedebouw, ISSN1389-742x
2009 Audi magazine (2x)
2009 International Design Festival Berlin, ISBN 978-3-9812813-1-6, Germany
2008 Monu – Exotic Urbanism, ISSN 1860-3211
2008 KAAT magazine, ISSN 1875-3817
2008 Rotterdam Groenjaar 2008, Gemeente Rotterdam
2008 GREEN ISLAND, ISBN 978-88-6208-062-0, Italia
2006 Dit is Nederland, ISBN 90-78088-02-8
2006 MS Research Kunstprijs
2001 Erasmus magazine, Rotterdam
Exhibitions (selection)
2024
Precious Water: underwater installation, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Duo presentation with Jasper de Gelder
2022
IABR Ministerie van Maak: toekomst NL, leven met water
Gemeentehuis Woerden: A Flock of Fish - bottles, mens en water
Stadskantoor Utrecht: A Flock of Fish - bags, mens en water
De Posthoornslak, mens en natuur, Rotte, Rotterdam
Hoek van Holland met The Hermit Crab, mens en natuur
2022: Hilton Art Lab - Reflections on Water
2021
Tropicana Fest in Rotterdam. Expositie met recycle art
Hoek van Holland met The Hermit Crab
2019
DXIX - De
Aanschouw in Los Angeles; Co/Lab 4 at Torrence Art Museum
2016
Art Rotterdam Week - Rotterdam.Photo
2015
Mysteryland festival
Art weekend Witte de With
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam
2014
Burning Man Dutch Decompression Amsterdam
Matadero Madrid
2013
Barcelona Design Week
Art Rotterdam Week
Day of Architecture Delft
2012
Shenzhen Hong Kong Biennale, China
Istanbul Modern / Istanbul Design Biennal
Innovation Estaffette Horizon 2020 Amsterdam
Centre of Arts Rotterdam (solo)
Museum Night Rotterdam
Art Pie International Amsterdam
2011
Route du Nord Rotterdam
2010
Creative Industry Week Shanghai 2010 China
Istanbul European Capital of Culture 2010
Ruhr2010 European Capital of Culture 2010 Germany
Pecs European Capital of Culture 2010 Hungary
Red Dot Design Museum Essen, Germany
2009
Tenerife Design Festival Spain
Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven
Motel Mozaique
CBK Rotterdam
La Noche en Blanco Matadero Madrid
Wereld van Witte de With at Boijmans van Beuningen
DMY International Design Festival Berlin Germany
WAMP Design Fair Budapest, Hungary
2008
Museum Elburg
EU Regionale Temporaere Gaerten
Art Pie International Amsterdam
Artemis Sanat Merkezi Istanbul Turkey
Galerie De Aanschouw Rotterdam
2007
Guerilla Store Comme de Garcons The Hague
Atrium of city hall The Hague
2001 - 2005
Sr. Telmo, Buenos Aires Argentinië
KunstXpress at NAI/Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam
Witte de With art festival Rotterdam
Business information
Lijnbaan 131 - Rotterdam NL
Chamber of Commerce nr: 61252441