MACHAS

A GARDEN IN THE NETWORK: A TRAVELLING PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

As Italy’s largest gas supplier, Snam’s network is vast and extends from the Alps to the southern province of Sicily. On the green hills of Valdarno, right on the lands adjoining the plant that keeps the pressure of the gas constant, Snam joined forces with social cooperative group Betadue to go beyond its standard service and pioneer a sustainable project called “A Garden in the Network”.

The project employed disadvantaged and disabled people that produced 2000 meals that were given to the nearby communities. Snam together with TWBA Rome contacted Machas to curate a photographic series to document the people that give life to the “Garden in the network.”

The brief required an open, honest look at its subjects and Machas commissioned The Guardian photographer Christian Sinibaldi for the assignment. Christian travelled to Tuscany and visited the people and the territory, spending whole work days with them, from morning to evening.

“It was a great project and an incredible occasion to meet the local social workers, farmers and entrepreneurs. I had the chance to see first hand how these people have created a very healthy way of engaging and giving something back to their communities,” says Christian. “I will never forget the face of a woman at the Casa Pinocchio mental health institute who looked into my eyes and graciously thanked me for paying them a visit”.

Christian’s candid look at the faces and hands of the people at work tells the story of people connected to their territory, of social integration and shared values.

Machas worked closely together with the photographer and Snam to curate the touring show which started in Milan, in the picturesque setting of Vine of Leonardo, carried on at Milan EXPO and ended on the 23rd of September in Terranuova Bracciolini, when renowned TV chef Simone Rugiati prepared a full meal using only the products from Betadue.