The Snail
by Gabriele Venanzio
A "babbalùcia" to learn slowness
The large “babbalùcia” sculpture, an enormous iron snail elevated on a base that also serves as a bench, was created in September 2014 by the young Palermo artist and sculptor Gabriele Venanzio, known in the Agrigento area for his works, including one in honor of the director Pietro Germi. The sculpture aims to rediscover the value of slowness—the passage of time from the perspective of a snail, which lives its life slowly, savoring it in all its splendor—as well as the value of pause. For this reason, in an effort to revive the square as it was in the past, a bench has been placed alongside the snail, symbolizing slowness, and a place for rest: a bench for reflection, discussion, and for carrying forward, together, a common project.
The Snail by Gabriele Venanzio
Perhaps not everyone knows that... the inhabitants of Sambuca have always been called “sammucàri babbaluciàri” (Sambucesi big snails), derived from the term "babbalùcia" (snail). They like this nickname so much, which recalls the large number of snails (babbalùci) that once populated the countryside, that they have scattered various installations throughout the town depicting what has become their symbol: the snail. One iron snail is mounted on the corner of Palazzo Panitteri, another is in its courtyard, one is erected on a pedestal along Corso Umberto I, one in wood is located in the sensory garden of the inclusive playground in the Villa Comunale, and one is in the center of Piazza Vittoria, along Corso Umberto I. The latter has been renamed "Vittoria" after the square where it was initially placed.
A Sicilian enfant prodige sculptor
Gabriele Venanzio was born in Palermo in 1988. From a young age, he showed a particular inclination towards drawing and, thanks to his sculptor uncle, developed a strong interest in sculptural materials. In 2007, he completed his artistic high school education and in 2012, under the guidance of Maestro Salvatore Rizzuti, he graduated in Sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Palermo. During his years at the Academy, he participated in numerous exhibitions and competitions, creating public monuments throughout Sicily. Among the most notable are the monument to the “Martyrs for Civilization” in Palazzo Adriano, province of Palermo (2010); “The Lame Man of Gangi” in the main square of the town of Gangi (2013); the Blessed Pino Puglisi for the Mother Church of Castelvetrano; the Italo-American hero “Joe Petrosino” in the province of Salerno (2014); Saint John Paul II for the Hospital of Sciacca; Tomasi di Lampedusa, John Paul II, and Saint Rosalia for Santa Margherita di Belice; an angel in memory of the 1968 earthquake for the municipality of Montevago; General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa in the municipality of Alessandria della Rocca; a face of Christ at the Holy See; and further monuments in Palermo and San Martino delle Scale.
Sambuca works and his artistic research
In Sambuca, Venanzio created a resin replica of the San Giuseppe statue housed in the namesake church; he also restored the iron components of an ancient portal destroyed by the 1968 earthquake, which was "rediscovered" and returned to the city; and he worked on the bronze portal of the Chiesa del Carmine. His artistic exploration stems from an interest in figurative art as an imitation of reality. He employs various materials, such as resin, terracotta, and marble, but his primary focus is on monumental sculpture. His works are categorized into two main types: commissioned monumental pieces and personal, research-driven creations.
