Umberto Cavenago's €150K Public Sculpture Used as Barbecue in Suzzara

A group of young people used Umberto Cavenago's public sculpture "Sweet Home" in Suzzara, Italy, as a barbecue grill, posting videos on social media. The corten steel work, resembling an ark, was commissioned for the San Colombano green area along the Po River. It cost over €150,000, funded 75% by the Italian Ministry of Culture through the PAC 2021 plan and 25% by the municipality of Suzzara. After the video went viral, local police found trash but the group had left. The incident sparked debate in the city council. Cavenago, born in Milan in 1959, expressed sympathy for the youths, saying he would have liked to join and enjoys Mantuan sausages. He criticized local politicians for lack of foresight and bureaucracy. The sculpture, installed in July 2022, is anchored with naval chains to move with floodwaters, though the river was at historic lows at installation. It was commissioned by the Museo del Premio Suzzara and is meant as a cultural space connecting institutions, artists, and the community. Cavenago's practice uses industrial materials and processes, creating works that engage with natural and architectural spaces.