Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave

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Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave
An exhibition commissioned by LUCA and shot by Michele Iacobini
14th July - 6th September
Luca, 88 St John Street
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City Walls
—A note from Johnny Smith, Creative Director
Daniel and I have spent years travelling the length and breadth of Italy - meeting winemakers and producers, breaking bread with their families, and celebrating life over long, convivial meals in beautiful settings. Time and again, we’ve been struck by the generosity, honesty, and spirit of the people we’ve met - these experiences have shaped our deep love of the country.
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San Bartolo
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Andiamo!
We find great joy in sharing stories about Italy - its produce, landscapes, and people. The annual holiday of Ferragosto typifies this spirit - is there anything more Italian than disappearing to the seaside with the people you love the most? What began as honouring the tradition with a menu on our Terrace grew into a compulsion to capture and share the celebrations themselves.
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Buongiorno
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Mass
For this, we couldn’t think of a better collaborator than Michele - one of our favourite photographers. His work captures vivid, colourful glimpses of hidden Italy: spontaneous, heartfelt moments that feel alive and unfiltered. It’s exactly the version of Italy we wanted to bring to London.
Those Who Stay and Those Who Leave is an exhibition in two parts. Set during an evocative summer in Sicily, it captures the stillness of Palermo as the city empties for Ferragosto. Normally buzzing streets take on a ghostly quiet as families and friends migrate to the sun-drenched coast — a time-honoured ritual that reflects both absence and presence, nostalgia and joy.
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Under Sicilian Sky
As well as hanging on the walls of LUCA, all exhibited works will be available for purchase, alongside a selection of smaller prints.
What you see here is just a snapshot of the expressive images Michele captured in Sicily. We hope you join us in the restaurant to see the full exhibition.
Love,
Johnny x
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Sunset on the Sea