Giovanni Cuccarollo

Giovanni Cuccarollo, who was always a rather shy and reserved man, worked all his life for the international domestic electric appliance company Zanussi in their regional factory in Pordenone. After he retired in 2000, he gave full rein to his desire to express himself – and he chose to tell his tales in constructions of stone and concrete. In order to do this, he created images and human figures with stones and small rocks that he picked up along his long walks on the banks of the Frioul rivers with his dog and wife Graziella. With mosaics, he embellished the exterior of his house; with statues and other decorations such as a wishing well, a star-shaped fountain, and a bas-relief commemorative plaque, he ornamented his garden. In several statues, he represented his son, who prematurely died as an adolescent after a series of illnesses. In one sculptural assemblage, he prophetically represented himself walking, hand-in-hand with his beloved son.

Cuccarollo also chose to ornament other places in the village where he lived, and to punctuate the route leading to the rural alpine church with the stations of the Way of the Cross. The works appear sturdy and stiff, the limbs are outstretched but lack realism, and the faces are generally rather flat, with staring eyes and little expression.

Those works in the garden of the family house are not viewable from the street, nor is the space open to the public.

~Mario D’Aurizio

www.costruttoridibabele.net



San Leonardo Valcellina, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, 33086 it
Latitude/Longitude: 46.096064 / 12.681787

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