Fotoexhibition in Sardinia at S'Ispiga

More than 70 guests accepted our invitation to the opening of a photo exhibition at the Agriturismo S’Ispiga in Sardinia on June 28, 2026. The exhibition, titled “Sa Messadura a S’Antiga,” runs until September 15. We had completed the final preparations the day before.

Due to the high summer temperatures, chairs were set up for visitors in a shady spot outdoors, directly beneath the mural depicting a scene from the exhibition’s theme.

What does “Sa Messadura a S’Antiga” mean?

Once a year, S’Ispiga keeps alive the ancient tradition of harvesting grain by hand with sickles with “Sa Messadura a S’Antiga.” As Lilli Inzis emphasized in her welcoming speech, this is an event that’s caracterized by working together.

Lilli then explained: “S’Ispiga grows the traditional grain variety Grano duro Capelli. This is used to make durum wheat semolina and pasta, which are used daily in the agriturismo’s kitchen. At ‘Sa Messadura a S’Antiga’, everyone works together to cut the grain, bundle it and bring it home; everyone proudly poses for photos before the harvest, and there is singing and feasting. The photo exhibition arose from a desire to raise awareness of the farm’s activities and to share knowledge about the traditions and working methods of the past. ‘Sa Messadura a S’Antiga’ offers an insight into the diverse tasks involved in wheat cultivation, and we celebrate this event every year with joy and cheer when we come together on this day. The message we wish to convey is how important it is to be aware of and eat healthy produce. The S’Ispiga educational farm has made it its mission to convey this message, for example, to the children who visit us every year on school trips.”

Guido Cocco from Tres Nuraghes, a passionate researcher, has long been engaged with ancient traditions. He vividly illustrated the traditional wheat harvest, holding a bundle of ears of wheat in his arms. He explained, “The most important thing about this project, in my opinion, is that we keep alive the traditions and practical skills we learned from past generations as Su Connottu. Our generation can still pass on the importance of naturally grown wheat for our health.” He emphasised his words with the tools of the past.

Light, camera settings and image composition

Over the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing Lilli and Antonangelo’s grain harvest. I’d like to thank everyone involved in these harvest events for helpfully supporting my photographic ideas. The first photos were taken shortly after 5:00 a.m. It was still almost dark then, followed by the soft light of dawn. Next came the vibrant colors of the golden hour, and finally, the challenging contrasts of midday. The changing light conditions required constantly adjusting camera settings and compositions. Stillness, tranquil moods, action and movement, interaction and communication, and finally, the proud presentation of the harvest.

Tour through the photo exhibition

Franco Spanedda brought with him a valuable document of historical continuity: a presentation of his photographs of the grain harvest from 23 years ago. Franco is a well-known photographer of the Montiferru and Sinis regions in Cuglieri for many decades. The two pictures below this paragraph show visitors leafing through Franco’s photos.

Afterwards, the exhibition space became quite crowded as we toured the displayed photos. The friendly, lively atmosphere and the questions and comments about the exhibited photos impressed and delighted me greatly.

The evening, lasting late into the night, was filled with lively conversations about the grain harvest, the photos, and shared experiences. Here, people had gathered who were united by their enthusiasm for old traditions and their appreciation of grain as a fundamental part of our food.

The exhibition is open until September 15, 2026, from 7 pm to 9 pm or by appointment. I would like to thank Vittoria Attene and Franco Spanedda for the beautiful photos and for their work as photographers that evening.

The three of us would love to hear your comments!