Photography Exhibition by Mario Bucolo
21-28 January 2025
Mon – Fri | 10 am – 5 pm at ICI LondonOpening: 21 January, 6.30 pm at ICI London. Book HERE
ICI London is delighted to present the first Photography Exhibition in the UK on the Feast of Saint Agatha by the photographer Mario Bucolo.
Saint Agatha is the Patron Saint of Catania, whose feast is a spectacular religious celebration, held in Catania from February 3rd to 5th. It’s one of the world’s top three religious events, drawing in around half a million people over almost four days. It’s a major deal for the people of Catania, a mix of deep religious devotion and colourful local traditions.
More information about the feast HERE
In addition, Saint Agatha has a connection with the British Royal Family. Legend has it that the saint’s precious crown (the reliquary bust full of jewels offered as gifts of devotion) was donated, during a stay in Sicily, by King Richard the Lionheart upon his return from one of the Crusades. This was around the time of the return of the saint’s relics (on display and adored by the faithful during the festival) from Constantinople in 1126 AD. Queen Elizabeth II had a photo (taken by Mario Bucolo) of Saint Agatha in her collection, and her letter of thanks to Bucolo for informing her of this connection will also be on display at the exhibition.
Curated by Mariia Shub, the exhibition is included in the official program of the festival with texts by Mariella and Carmelo Aurite, Sonia Distefano, and Mario Bucolo. At the opening, guests will be able to enjoy the traditional sweets of the festival, the “minnuzze di San’Agata”, to which the New York Times recently dedicated a specific article, illustrating the international significance of the festival.
The President of the Committee for the Feast of Saint Agatha, Carmelo Grasso, considers the exhibition to be the first step in making the saint’s presence felt among the Catanese communities living abroad. For the occasion, the cloistered nuns, Benedictines of the SS. Sacramento of Catania, have dedicated a message of greeting and prayer to the Catanians in London.
The exhibition, has been produced by the Fabbricateatro association of Catania and with the patronage of the following: the Committee for the Feast of Saint Agatha, the ENIT (Italian Tourism Board), the Sicilian Regional Tourism Department, the Municipality of Catania (the Mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, is expected to attend the opening), the South-East Tourist District – Managing Body of the UNESCO site of “The Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto”, the Circolo MIE of London, and the UK Confederation, by the daily newspaper “La Sicilia” (whose front page has featured photographs of the festival taken by Bucolo on several occasions). Special thanks goes to Rocco Forte Hotels, who have supported the exhibition.
Mario Bucolo is from Catania, has lived in London for 10 years, is a professional photographer, or rather an “Artisan of Imagery” as he prefers to be called, and has been following the Feast of Saint Agatha for 25 years. His photos of the festival, and not only, have received several international awards.
Cover Image: courtesy by Mario Bucolo.