Eelco and his work for the staircase of Santa Lucia

The Dutch street artist has been chosen by the municipality of Arzachena to create the 2025 edition of the installation on the Steps

He comes from Rotterdam and he’s the man behind the new art installation on the staircase of the Church of Santa Lucia, which opens the season in Gallura: with artistic direction by Giorgio Casu – curator of the 2021 and 2023 editions – Eelco has designed a large-scale fresco addressing current themes for the stairs overlooking the square.

What’s the inspiration for the project, and what message do you want to send to Sardinia and the world?

The main concept for my work in Arzachena is that we’re all connected, we’re all one with nature and we need to welcome change. I believe we should show interest in things we’re not used to, instead of saying I don’t like it because I don’t know it. To convey all this I’ve made a painting that’s quite abstract; I didn’t want it to be too obvious. There’s a fox, but also a human figure, a cat… It’s a huge totem, and the further away you go, the more sense and coherence it gains. Art’s power of connection is really interesting. And the colour combinations in my work also symbolise the combination of different cultures.

EELCO, ultimi ritocchi all'opera Integrity sulla scalinata della chiesa di Santa Lucia ad Arzachena (ph. Isabella Chiodino)

How did you create the installation?

The preparation of the 76 wooden planks was done at C’entro in San Gavino Monreale, in around a week. I designed the first six planks and then developed the entire thing digitally: I was worried that too many details would make it hard to see the images from below and from a distance. The whole painting should be visible from the main square. I had to make sure there was consistency in details and form.

Where can we see other works of yours?

I’ve worked a lot in the United States in recent years; for some reason I’m more famous there than in the Netherlands.

I believe that since it’s outdoors, my art promotes itself through the people who see it. And as far as I’m concerned it’s a lot of travelling: I go wherever I’m wanted.

Can you sum up what you like about Sardinia?

The local people try and communicate with me even though I don’t speak the language; they’re all really friendly, kind and welcoming. It’s fantastic here.