The handover of “Osvaldo” to the local police

The last remaining “Osvaldo” sculpture will now be kept in the care of the local police. But rather than ending up behind bars, it will be protected by the officers themselves.

The final surviving piece from a series of ceramic artworks created by artist Paolo Pastorino to decorate the gardens of Piazza Dante had suffered the same fate as the others, which had been vandalized or stolen.

However, this particular sculpture was later found abandoned in Conradi Park and recovered by a local police patrol.

Following its recovery, the artist made a decision:

“I am saddened by what happened to these artworks, but I am very happy to donate the last remaining piece to the local police, who have made such great efforts to recover them,” Pastorino explained.

The surviving Osvaldo was subsequently presented to Ombretta Colombo, Commander of the local police.

“Unfortunately,” explained the head of the Albisola police department, “this is not the first time that the Osvaldo sculptures have been vandalized, damaged or removed from Piazza Dante. Our officers have always recovered them and returned them to their owner. We will take good care of this artwork, which will become our official mascot.”

The installation of the colorful, rabbit-shaped sculptures, standing approximately 70 centimeters tall, had originally been welcomed as an imaginative and creative way to greet tourists visiting the town.

By G.V.