THIS LAND IS MY LAND

Since 2013, the so-called fire bacterium – Xylella fastidiosa – has been spreading in Apulia. The pathogen causes devastating diseases in numerous plant species. In southern Italy, it has infested olive groves and this has meant that hectares of century-old trees have had to be cleared. No cure for the epidemic has yet been developed, but hope lies in grafting resistant local wild sprouts with productive varieties. Caimi & Piccinni’s long term project documents the dramatic impact of the tree epidemic on the landscape, while following the hopes of farmers and agronomists in their daily struggle. With a large visual span, they link the individual fates of the population with the experiences of loss of a cultural heritage and the development of resilience – in both humans and nature.