Cascina Moia

Across the sprawling cityscape, Cascina Moia whispers tales of a unique artistic endeavor. Pietro Bologna, an artist with a keen eye and a simple cell phone, embarked on a daily ritual. He walked his dog through the southern outskirts of Milan, specifically Cascina Battivacco near Cascina Moia. Each day, he captured images of the land. These weren’t just snapshots. They were pieces of a larger puzzle, a photographic project titled “Hectare.” From 2017 to 2024, Bologna meticulously documented the area around Cascina Moia. This daily practice, born almost by chance, became a temporal and ritualistic act. Each photo, shared with a small group of friends, sparked a unique dialogue. Images mingled with words, creating a vibrant tapestry of responses. Cascina Moia stood witness as the project evolved. Bologna envisioned an archive, a hectare of photography that would grow upon itself. He intentionally used an older cell phone to highlight the medium’s limitations. Bologna’s goal wasn’t just to document but to expose. He wanted to reveal the “malice of the compromised gaze.” He felt the need to expose the medium he used, a need born from the spontaneity and lack of expectations of the project itself. He even developed a sub-category of the project, “Ettaro,” which involved blurring the images even further, making them almost unrecognizable, and showcased it at Lab 1930 in Milan. The blurred images echoed the ever-evolving landscape around Cascina Moia, a testament to Bologna’s artistic vision. Cascina Moia, therefore, isn’t just a place on a map. It’s a silent partner in this unique artistic dialogue, a testament to how everyday rituals can transform into extraordinary expressions.