Industrial soul of Sulcis: Monteponi rebirth
Sulcis (Sardegna, Italy) is one of the poorest region of Europe. Despite the intense mining activities of the last two centuries and despite the investments of lead and silver and carbon companies. Nowadays, what is left of this intense industrial age are the skeletons of mines and factories spread in the area between Cagliari and Oristano. Among the several abandoned sites, the village of Monteponi (map below).
Grounded in 1850, Monteponi was operative until after WWII. I visited the complex for a couple of days to document the greatness of Sulcis industrial golden age. Several of the buildings are damaged and close to collapse, still the bound between shape and function, the rusty colors and the architectonic variety made the visit to Monteponi highly valuable. This photographic reportage (five picture series, published on artborghi.com every 3 days until the 25.10) is meant to preserve the memory of the place and to promote initiatives to sponsor the rebirth of Monteponi as open air museum.
Monteponi rebirth
Vittorio Emanuele mine shaft (1869). Here were winch and lift to access the mine depths.
Waelz electrical room (1925). This building was meant to re-distribute power in the complex.
Tanks, Waelz area. Collection and distribution of industrial water, a strategic resource for washing mine extracts and running the chemical facilities to extract pure minerals.
Warehouses, Waelz area.
Compressor room for Vittorio Emanuele mine shaft. Five compressors generated here the power for machines and lights in the mine tunnels.
All pictures and text copyright of Lorenzo Borghi (except for Monteponi map, copyright archivio storico Monteponi IGEA). Contact me at artborghi@gmail.com for picture use permission and related initiatives.
Get front row at “Berg und Tal”, the up-coming ARTBorghi photo-exhibition
Tired of people blocking the view? Join the opening of the new ARTBorghi photo-exhibition!
When: 29th of September 2016, this Thursday, at 6 pm
Where: Sihlquai 125: reach Limmatplatz (several bus / tram choices) and then 5 minutes on foot
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Traces of Industrialization in Canton Glarus: the upcoming ARTBorghi photo exhibition
In Canton Glarus (Switzerland), narrow valleys and mountain peaks are the natural background to dozens of high-tech and traditional industries. Flat, geometric surfaces of metal and concrete hiding the landscape from the sight are far from being alien to the place: instead, they decorate it for hundreds of years. Industrial buildings often comprise large transparent surfaces, either glass windows or see-through structures: this mirroresque game merges natural and man made landscapes, which become indistinguishable one from each other. Industrial tools and products, steel bars and concrete pipes pop up from grass fields and courtyards in every corner of the valleys, again witnesses of the productivity and labor of Glarnerland. These activities are constantly carried on inside new and old walls, such as in Eternit of Niederurnen and many others.
From 29.9 (6 pm) to 9.10.2016 (6 pm) I will take part of a collective photo exhibition in Zürich. My thema Berg und Tal depicts what is on the top (mountains) and on the bottom of the valleys in Canton Glarus. Come to Photobastei for the vernissage or finissage to meet the photographers! Click on the flyer for more info (in German) or just write me at artborghi@gmail.com
No time for a visit? Click here to browse Berg und Tal online