In his series “collectors” Erik Williamson, explores people who well….. “collect things”. What is it that motivates someone to collect one type of thing? Is it purely a sense of wanting to own them? Is it a statement about them and their lifestyle or is there a more fundamental need to belong that underlies collections? Through the journey of meeting and photographing people who collect, Erik found it was at all and of these and more.

“The most fascinating thing about doing this project was the connections I made with people, some I knew and some I didn’t. Some of my subject’s collections express their lifestyle though objects and a desire to preserve something neglected or disappearing. Others the collection is almost by accident and still others, it is something they have always done.”

All the subjects had consistent reasons for collecting, that they all shared. What was interesting was how they differed.

My subjects are

Chris – The modernist, he collects chairs. He particularly looks for Australian modernist period designed and manufactured pieces

Bernie – Has been collecting Barbies since she was very young. She has the fist Barbie she ever owned.

Clint – The typographer. Clint’s collection of word type is vast. He is passionate about design, and typography having spent his life as a designer and educator. He was photographed in his moveable type studio.

Georgia – Collects religious iconography. Her collection has been largely gifted to her through her role in catholic education. The icons form an integral part of her warm and rich house that embraces you like a hug and sit beside other many and varied statement pieces of other genres.

Jason -  Is making military miniatures great again. His collection of Napoleonic war era miniatures is part collection, part mindfulness and part historical curiosity.

Michael – Is a Neon bender. He made his career making Neon signs in Brisbane and he is as passionate an advocate for his craft as anyone you could meet. If your saw the recent “NEON” exhibition at The State Library of Qld, then most of what you saw was down to this wonderful man.

Susan – The seamstress, she collects vintage 50-60s era patterns and fabrics. She makes the patterns into clothes (using the vintage fabric) and then she wears them.