Italian artist Nico Van Lucas creates artistic gift for UAE’s Eid Al Etihad

Muhammad Yusuf, Feature Writer

Stu Studios, Dubai, is hosting one of Italy’s most renowned artists, Nico Van Lucas, for the 53rd Eid Al Etihad (National Day) celebrations, where a masterpiece of his take on the UAE flag will be on show and for sale. Nico’s inspiration for his UAE-inspired art was His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who has spoken about the country’s dedication to fostering a vibrant cultural environment. The Ruler of Dubai has emphasised that the emirate’s ethos of “tolerance, openness, and inclusiveness” has created a home for diverse artistic talent, and creative expression in all its forms, vital for the progress of the country and for civilisation.

For the first two days of the show, on November 23 and 24, Stu Studios is offering a complimentary photoshoot for all attendees and media. ‘I Paint Colors’ is an exhibition of 12 pieces previously showcased in Florence. The artworks create an explosion of colours on large canvases, with the biggest of them being 220 x 160 cm in size. They have been created in mixed media and prices start from Dhs60,000 to Dhs150,000.

Painting becomes the intermediary, while the arm, which puts the colour on the canvas, becomes a connection to the imagination. The colours freeze, without knowing the furious gestures of the artist, who, in a flash, lassoed them. Grasping the elusive seems to be Nico’s style, while the light inside the brush does not want to remain still, as it changes with every shade. The love for Arte Informale (Informal Art), the interest in capturing and reproducing light, and the passion for the exuberance of colours, leads him to create this type of painting on large canvases.
Informal Art is a type of abstraction in which form becomes less important than that of the expressive impulses of the artist. Art characterised as “Informal” is executed spontaneously and the approach to painting and sculpture are generally gestural, performative, expressionistic and experimental (Wikipedia). Nico’s large works express a sense of monumentality which, through gestural painting and a strong expressive charge, testify to the power of creativity as an instrument for the liberation of ideas and the desire for total freedom.

Colour is the true protagonist, as the artist delves deeply into it to bring out its transparent and luminous features. Nico’s works tell of the strokes of an intense brush before the colours take final shape. He has participated in several competitions and exhibitions, both solo and collective, winning positive reviews from critics. He has taken part in the 4th Edition of the Genoa Biennale; at the international Contemporary Art Exhibition of Villa Fidelia in Spello, Italy; in a charity auction for Christie’s in Rome; and inaugurated his solo exhibition in the Rocca Paolina, a historical heritage site, located in the heart of Perugia, among others.

In 2021, he opened his first solo in the Museum of San Salvatore in Lauro, Rome, and in 2022, took part in Venice Art exhibition at Arterminal, a museum exhibition space in the heart of Venice. In the same year, he held his solo show in Arona, Italy, titled ‘Il Volo’, and 2023 opened with his participation in the exhibition at Hotel Splendide Royal in Lugano, Switzerland. After a second exhibition in Arona, a show was also hosted in Umbria, Montone, a splendid town nestled in the Umbrian hills. He has exhibited his works at Spazio Gervasoni in Milan and his works are displayed as a permanent exhibition at Niki’s Resort, Italy. In 2024, his works were exhibited in Rome (May 13 – June 13), in a solo event. His third solo exhibition was in Florence and subsequently in Dubai at Stu Studios. Next winter, his works will move to Stockholm and Tallinn. Nico’s large canvases are part of numerous private collections not only in Italy, but also in the rest of Europe.

Stu Studios was established in 2006 and has expanded over time from studio-based photography with five staff members, to a company employing over 50 staff, photographing across a range of disciplines around the world. Based in Al Quoz Creative Zone, Dubai, its 5,500 square feet, purpose built studios, consists of four spaces. Each studio has its own character. They offer the full range of photography and videography services, including family, friends and kids portraiture; business and brand imagery; videography, editing and retouching; events and commercial imagery; printing and framing services and studio rentals. Stu Studios matches the individual styles of its photographers with the tastes of its clients. This has gained it many high profile commissions in the UAE from clients such as Armani at Burj Khalifa and the Jumeriah Group’s Burj Al Arab, among others.