Mario Cucinella Opens Teatro Consagra in Belice for Biennale Project

On January 14, 2018, the 50th anniversary of the Belice Valley earthquake, architect Mario Cucinella opened the unfinished Teatro Consagra in Gibellina, Sicily, as part of his Arcipelago Italia project for the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. The theater, designed by sculptor Pietro Consagra in 1984 but never completed, was opened to visitors during the Scribblitti event by artist Hu-Be, who created a large canvas depicting community memories. Cucinella's project focuses on Italy's internal areas and aims to highlight the contrast between post-earthquake reconstruction through art and the failure to complete projects. The event included meetings with Gibellina residents, who shared memories of the earthquake and the town's rebirth through artworks by artists like Alberto Burri, thanks to former mayor Ludovico Corrao. The theater, a habitable sculpture with curved planes and no right angles, was intended to host the Orestiadi festival. Cucinella and local artist Peppe Zummo plan to present their vision for completing the theater at the Biennale.