A show of art, design, lights and olfactory experiences
First Diana Nicolaie exhibition, curator Ioana Ciocan, 4-31 May 2023, ARCUB

The debut exhibition of Diana Nicolaie, interior and product designer, “Light. An airy view point of density”, curated by Ioana Ciocan, opened on the evening of 4 May and can be visited until 31 May at ARCUB. The first show signed by Diana Nicolaie presents a selection of 8 works depicting the most important symbols of light, the leitmotif of the artist’s creation. The works, in shades of white, combine painting, structural elements and light, all complemented by a special olfactory experience.

“In my vision, light is the core that unites perspectives, feelings, different worlds into a unified whole and leads the viewer to introspection. Light merges perspectives on what we feel and experience, transforming a moment, an emotion, an image into a unique and defining experience. What I have tried to encompass in my work is precisely how I can fuse sculpture and painting to convey a message with light. We each perceive images, textures, ideas differently, but light is always constant. It is light that gives the emotion of an image outlined by shadows and colours.” – Diana Nicolaie, artist.

“Over the centuries, artists have played with light, explored and exploited it both as a subject and especially as a tool to create moods and capture the beauty of nature. Light determines colours and shadows and darkens or brightens a canvas. Light has been essential in all styles of painting, from the Renaissance to Impressionism to abstract art. Diana Nicolaie’s work blends design with art, tames materials and textures, brings out unsuspected links between form and emotion, and, above all, has an exciting ability to trigger emotions in viewers. Diana combines natural and synthetic materials and challenges the perfection of Renaissance scenes and sculptures to a play of design and geometry. Light is the coagulating factor in her art, but also in her personality.” – Ioana Ciocan, curator.

Diana Nicolaie’s first solo exhibition, “Light. An airy view point of density”, presents a series of works inspired by the artist’s background in design, with a special scenography. Light is used in a unique way to highlight the subject matter of the works and to enliven visitors’ senses, an invitation by the artist to the essence of each work. Diana Nicolaie often uses tone-in-tone, either white/white or black/black, in her practice to put the spotlight on textures. The works in her first exhibition are exclusively in shades of white.

Among the guests present at the opening were Diana Baciuna, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, Liviu Jicman, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute, cultural personalities, journalists and content creators. The Mayor General of the Capital, Nicușor Dan, also visited the exhibition.

About Diana Nicolaie
Diana Nicolaie is a graduate of Product Design – University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu” in Bucharest. An artist of objects, she has dedicated herself to the profession of interior & product design since graduation, embodying emotion in shapes and colors with each unique product she creates. Now she decides to explore and reveal the artistic side she feels attracted to since childhood. Diana Nicolae is inspired by the sculptural and architectural nature of the design objects she enters into dialogue with, by natural raw materials and contemporary compositions.

She creates distinctive, monumental pieces, often true installations on canvas, that provoke an immediate reaction from the viewer. The art created by Diana Nicolaie is based on playing with varied shapes and textures, strong volumetrics and mixed media. The artist uses the play of light and shadow as an open invitation to the viewer to her artistic universe. At times, she chooses to directly or suggestively introduce human presence into her works.