Sebastian was a boy when he left Catania and his family to become a clown and a street performer. Indeed a difficult choice. In Sicily in the late 70s, for most part of the population, breaking the family order was still perceived as a harbinger of doom. Growing up in a patriarchal family, Sebastian’s outbreaking questioned paternal authority and shook the foundation of the family.
In those times, being an artist meant also questioning manhood bringing shame upon the family. A son with the craze for art, theater, music, poetry, would be seen as “puppo” (homosexual).
For his father, Sebastian had only two options: return to the ranks or be excluded. For Sebastian there was only one: rebel against this claustrophobic vision of life. He decided to walk alone, leave everything behind, heading toward northern Europe.
In contemporary society counter-current choices can be difficult. I do not know if nowadays it’s still possible to be master of one’s own destiny and to live without social and family conditioning. At 50 years is now a versatile artist: musician, actor, clown, set designer, luthier and craftsman in ongoing research and development, actively working on social projects for children and youth. Today he lives in Rome and feels free.
Over time he has turned crisis and wounds in resources. Has left behind lives, changed countries, to start all over again and again. What he never changed is the fundament of his whole life: Never stop dreaming dreams and make them reality.
" Sarabande" is a work of dignity and deliverance of a man.