Dubai’s pioneering F&B Art outlet opens the fall season by inviting Lebanese artist, Suzi Fadel Nassif back to showcase her newest exhibition Viva la Vida, Viva el Amor to enter Mo-vember. As part of the COYA Collective and to raise awareness for the wellbeing of men this month, Nassif’s exhibition carries pieces where the subject dons a moustache and will run for six weeks starting 13^th November at Dubai’s most famed Peruvian outlet, COYA Dubai.

This will be Nassif’s second time exhibiting at COYA Dubai, with her first exhibition taking place last November, where she sold 8 out of 12 paintings. Since then, the award-winning artist has toured COYA properties globally in addition to Moscow, Tokyo and Venice as well as auctioning her work in different charity organizations. Nassif’s Viva la Vida, Viva el Amor exhibition will be making its Middle East debut after showcasing in COYA London this summer.

Her signature use of vivid colors and bold styles and colors are present in this collection as it includes the Latin American spirits, faces and backgrounds, in an artistic manifestation of Latin American culture through which you can almost read a special dialogue in each work, about themes such as Love, Art, Life, Challenge, Culture and Differences. The exhibition is mainly between some of the most famous, historical faces from that region from different eras like Fernando Botero, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali and “Che” Guevara, who, in a one way or another portray the Latin American world.

“My fascination with the Latino culture began during an early age, I used to make little illustrations on my notebooks of people with colorful clothes and hair garments and a mix of gypsy/gitanas and Mexican moods. Totally fascinated with their Fashion, music, food, Art, traditions, struggles, paradoxes, social, political and cultural heroism, I could not but be inspired to create a tiny fragment of that rich culture. The title of this exhibition was inspired by Frida’s last written words on one of her paintings only a few days before she died, she wrote: “Viva la vida” and because I have this intense Love affair with Latino Art I added: “Viva el Amor”! It was poetic and theatrical to plan an unusual Rendez- Vous between those great immortals from different times to communicate and live vividly on the surface of my canvas: it’s epic!” says Suzy Nassif.

“This is exactly what we are all about at COYA. As part of our rich and vivid soul, Art is an element that we have been supporting since the opening of COYA London and continues through our birth in the Middle East in 2014 to the present day. Our collaboration with Suzi Nassif is the perfect example of what we are able to do- to lend a platform to artists, designers and talents to be a part of our Collective and have the opportunity to showcase not only in Dubai but grow and tap into a wider global audience with exhibitions in London, Miami and soon in Abu Dhabi as well,” said Cedric Toussaint, Director of Operations, COYA Dubai.