The Metamorphosis of Saint Lucy
Courtyard of Studio Berta, Nembrini, Colombini & Associati, Via Mazzini 4
Eleonora Molignani e Olmo Erba
This artwork explores the symbolism of Saint Lucy's eyes through a metamorphosis expressed in three neon sculptures. The first sculpture depicts the plate the saint traditionally holds with her eyes resting on it. This reference is drawn from a 1570 work by a sculptor for the Milan Cathedral, where the plate resembles a mask. The first neon sculpture in The Metamorphosis of Saint Lucy, standing upright, is a double-sided neon in three colors: the face outline in white, eyelids in pink, and pupils in blue. Measuring 185 cm high and 150 cm wide, it represents the first phase of transformation. The second sculpture references a scene from the Griffoni Polyptych (1472) by Francesco del Cossa and Ercole de Roberti, in which Saint Lucy holds her eyes transformed into budding flowers emerging from a stem. At 175 cm in height and 160 cm wide, this central totemic piece signifies the true metamorphosis. The third sculpture features a line from a popular prayer to Saint Lucy, “Preserve the light......
Studio BNC—Berta, Nembrini, Colombini & Associati—is the result of a merger between Berta Nembrini & Associati and Colombini & Associati. Combining over two decades of experience and specialized expertise, it offers a comprehensive suite of consulting services in corporate, tax, and labor fields. Studio BNC is flexible and forward-looking, focusing on internal growth, professional development, and strategic partnerships with local businesses to provide 360° advisory services for clients.
With a team of over 100 professionals, consultants, and staff, it addresses diverse client needs with meaningful, practical solutions. The firm operates both nationally and internationally and has recently initiated a shift toward sustainability through an ESG focus team, which integrates environmental, social, and governance aspects into business strategies. This team also supports clients in preparing sustainability reports.
Born in Milan in 1995, Eleonora Molignani graduated with a degree in Cultural Heritage from the University of Milan and is now studying painting at the Bergamo School of the Arts. Her work often examines the relationship between humans and animals, especially the latter’s attempts at concealment. Although her main mediums are drawing and painting, she also experiments with diverse materials and forms, including performance and textile sculpture. Her fascination with ancient imagery and symbolic layering informed the creation of her collaborative work with Olmo Erba, interpreting the theme “Metamorphosis and Transformation” for Christmas Design 2024.
Born in Bergamo in 1997, Olmo Erba is currently pursuing a specialized degree at the G. Carrara Academy of Fine Arts in Bergamo. His work seeks to embody a feeling of melancholic awe, often inspired by childhood wonder and uncertainty.
Drawing from historical art, personal experiences, and folklore, Erba’s practice reinterprets traditional symbols and narratives, particularly those associated with saints and their symbolic stories. Primarily working with painting and drawing, he also explores varied expressive forms, including performance and installation, as seen in his collaboration with Eleonora Molignani for Christmas Design 2024. Here, his focus is on Saint Lucy’s eyes, rendered as luminous sculptures.
Christmas Design Bergamo - 2024 ©