ARTIST'S SPOTLIGHT - philip sajet
- eliane de luca peres
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
Sometimes, life presents unexpected opportunities—and I, for one, always try to stay open to these little ‘unicorns’ when they appear. One such moment arrived simply because I dared to ask. Yes, dared—because you never really know how things will turn out. But I'm an incorrigible optimist, so I went for it: I invited renowned jewelry artist Philip Sajet to be featured in my Artist’s Spotlight.
As it turns out, boldness and positivity do pay off. Not only did he accept, but he also generously shared an extraordinary collection of his thoughts and works with me—archives reaching back to 1981. I was deeply honored to read through this treasure trove and to select the pieces that resonated with me most.
We connected over FaceTime, exchanged stories, and I must say—Philip is an absolute delight. He’s witty, warm, and incredibly generous. I've admired his work for years, never imagining that one day we’d be chatting like old friends, let alone collaborating.
And speaking of collaboration—the best part is still under wraps. While I can’t reveal the details just yet, I’m thrilled to share that Philip has invited me to join him on a very special project. It’s an incredible honor, and I can’t wait to tell you more when the time comes.
In the meantime, I invite you to enjoy some of Philip’s reflections—his words of wisdom, aphorisms, and heartfelt advice for young creators.
My name is Philip Sajet, and I create Contemporary Classical Jewelry—one-of-a-kind pieces that bridge time and culture."Contemporary" because my work responds to the present moment we live in."Classical" because I strive to craft jewelry with a timeless, borderless quality—pieces that can be appreciated across cultures and eras.
That said, I also allow myself the freedom to stray from this path, playfully and with pleasure.
My aim is to speak in a visual, international language—open and unopinionated—and I hope that, in some way, I succeed.
These are wearable works: rings, necklaces, and earrings—pieces designed to touch the body, to connect with the skin.
I have been making jewelry since 1978. After graduating from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam in 1981, and navigating four years of creative confusion, I held my first solo exhibition at Galerie Louise Smit in Amsterdam.
Since then, my journey has continued—first within the Netherlands, and later on, internationally—through continuous work and exhibitions.
As for the future, I will be giving a workshop in Art Up Bucharest Jewelry school from May 5th until the 9th .
HOLY SACRILEGE AND OTHER APHORISMS/THOUGHTS
“Religious ceremonies are actions which one undertakes without the prospect of financial gain.
It's the act in itself, which is the gain.
This has a similarity to art,
it is an enterprise which serves no gain.
it should survive on donations,
by those humble enough to realize that this is an action they can't undertake, by lack of time, energy or conviction.
It is the responsibility of a class of people who have dedicated themselves to show the significance of life.”
“Jewelry. Consider it as a painting; don't consider it as a sculpture.”
“The power of the artist is that they control the process of creation: at first there was nothing, and then there was something".
“Advice to the young creator:
You are insecure about your art.
Our bases are all the same,
if we strip ourselves of all the nature and nurture,
back to the absolute basic of our being.
If you can feel that, know that,
then all you have to do is ask;
"Why am I here? What is the purpose of this machinery that has been given to me?"
So, the whole question is not to learn something but to unlearn a LOT.
Then when you are back from where you came,
you know you have to do something.
If you can't, you look for guidance,
until you don't need the guidance anymore,
and you can become a guide yourself.
Simple logic, agree?
What is our task?
Again simple, TO GROW, TO EXPAND.
To become bigger, larger, the Universe has to expand.
WHY?
How the fuck do I know?
All I know is that God, Gaia, Gabriel, Buddha, Allah, Adonai, Universal intelligence wants it.
We each choose our medium, be joyful in material. Jewelry.
Or be healthy, and help other people be healthy.
What is your Key? You see?
That is soul searching and that is fun.
How would that translate into a personal, universal jewel?
Why do I use broken red glass?
Apparently, something broke somewhere.
Why red? My mother’s favorite color.
And blood and life.
And the fire of life.
Why rust?
Rust in psychology stands for the deteriorating personality.
Something I am apparently afraid of.
Those are the ingredients.
Now put them together and you have a nice dish.
How to get to that key?
Before you go to sleep, tell your brain to show it to you.
Write down EVERY idea.
The more "stupid" the better,
that is a process you can do alone. (takes many years.)
Or someone helps you, goes much faster.
You are a child of God.
Nothing you do with the intention of honesty and sincerity can be wrong.
Impossible, once you have this trust, it's ok.
There can be no insecurity anymore.”
“To give the material (gold specifically) the guarantee that it has found its final form.
Rest and make changes no more.”
“Years from today in another culture maybe, I imagine a work of mine being found by a stranger.”
“To show the presence of light itself. Due to the absence of the Material. The residual space is available.”
“Actually, I don't have lot to say. I say the same thing all the time, but I do so in different languages (styles) then it looks as if I have a lot to say.”
