Mimi Mollica | Photographer
A man is waiting for the bus at a vandalised bus top inb Palermo. March 2009

Terra Nostra

Terra Nostra is a photo essay about Sicily and its tormented coexistence with Mafia. With my photographs I show the open scars and the permanent damages inflicted from Cosa nostra on a territory poisoned by corruption and the underworld rule. My intention is to focus on the unresolved relation with Mafia, the dark side of Sicily and how this translates on the abnormal becoming routine, from the daily withdrawals to a more characteristic sense of resignation that pervades several aspects of Sicilian society. As the title suggests Terra Nostra which literally translates to “Our Land” is a plea to take back what belong to all of us, to invest our common efforts in stepping out of the shadow and claim back our land.

To me Terra Nostra is an endeavour to focus back on the state of things in Sicily, where decades of abuse have marked permanently the territory and have normalised the state of emergency. My work highlights the features of those complex and often unintelligible dynamics that together define the dark side of Sicily, its self-neglect and the institutional lethargy that has contributed to immobilise large portions of political and economic life in the region.

 

Terra Nostra

Cohabiting with the mob in Sicily. | View tearsheets. | Information.

Two converging signs indicate "Exit" on the walls on the fish market in Trapani on the west coast of Sicily. July 2015

Two converging signs indicate "Exit" on the walls on the fish market in Trapani on the west coast of Sicily. July 2015

New development of council flats built in Porto Empedocle the very same site where the discharges of former mines lay untouched. Agrigento 2015

New development of council flats built in Porto Empedocle the very same site where the discharges of former mines lay untouched. Agrigento 2015

Pizzo Sella's abandoned residential development, better known as Michele Greco's Chirstmas Tree for it pyramidal shape, is the symbol of the Sack of Palermo, when former Mayor Salvo Lima and Mafia member and council assessor Vito Ciancimino unlawful

Pizzo Sella's abandoned residential development, better known as Michele Greco's Chirstmas Tree for it pyramidal shape, is the symbol of the Sack of Palermo, when former Mayor Salvo Lima and Mafia member and council assessor Vito Ciancimino unlawfully authorised about three thousand building licences in one night, destroying for good the Liberty heritage of Palermo's centre and outskirts.

A couple chats along while sun-bathing in front of a foreclosed hotel in Trapani periphery.

A couple chats along while sun-bathing in front of a foreclosed hotel in Trapani periphery.

Muted buildings in Cinisi, the village near Palermo where Peppino Impastato was brutalised by the Badalamenti's hit men.

Muted buildings in Cinisi, the village near Palermo where Peppino Impastato was brutalised by the Badalamenti's hit men.

A wedding invitee enjoys a cigarette outside the church.

A wedding invitee enjoys a cigarette outside the church.

A window riddled with bullets in the heart of Palermo city centre. 90% of business activities in the Sicilian capital pay extorsion money to the mob, despite the increasing successful campaign of Addiopizzo which supports store owners to denounce th

A window riddled with bullets in the heart of Palermo city centre. 90% of business activities in the Sicilian capital pay extorsion money to the mob, despite the increasing successful campaign of Addiopizzo which supports store owners to denounce the racket of extorsion in Palermo.

The wreath originally placed on rememberance of General Carlo Alberto Dall Chiesa lies uncared for and faced-down on the floor. Dalla Chiesa was murdered by Cosa nostra on September 3rd 1982 in the heart of the glamourous centre of Palermo.

The wreath originally placed on rememberance of General Carlo Alberto Dall Chiesa lies uncared for and faced-down on the floor. Dalla Chiesa was murdered by Cosa nostra on September 3rd 1982 in the heart of the glamourous centre of Palermo.

Man outside his home in Palma di Montechiaro on the south coast of Sicily

Man outside his home in Palma di Montechiaro on the south coast of Sicily

170_MM_Lecture.jpg
A man is waiting for the bus at a vandalised bus top inb Palermo. March 2009

A man is waiting for the bus at a vandalised bus top inb Palermo. March 2009

After years of neglet this strip on the south coast periphery of Palermo in Acqua dei Corsari, once used as an illegal dump for construction waste, was transformed in 2009 into a public park comprising of an open-air theatre, gardens and bicycle rou

After years of neglet this strip on the south coast periphery of Palermo in Acqua dei Corsari, once used as an illegal dump for construction waste, was transformed in 2009 into a public park comprising of an open-air theatre, gardens and bicycle routes. The park never made it to the public though and due to unclear burocratic complications this €4Mln investment fell to abandonment.

Piles of uncollected refusals invade the carriage of a main road in Brancaccio district on the North-East periphery of Palermo.

Piles of uncollected refusals invade the carriage of a main road in Brancaccio district on the North-East periphery of Palermo.

Overview of a recent highway extension entangled within the North periphery of Palermo. September 2014

Overview of a recent highway extension entangled within the North periphery of Palermo. September 2014

A fishmonger chats with a client at the historical street market of Capo in Palermo.

A fishmonger chats with a client at the historical street market of Capo in Palermo.

Valentina wearing a baroque mask at a friend's house.

Valentina wearing a baroque mask at a friend's house.

177_MM_Lecture.jpg
A girl observes through her window in Cinisi, a village near Palermo, a demonstration in rememberance of anti-mafia activist and journalist Peppino Impastato killed by the Badalamenti mafia family on May 9th 1978.

A girl observes through her window in Cinisi, a village near Palermo, a demonstration in rememberance of anti-mafia activist and journalist Peppino Impastato killed by the Badalamenti mafia family on May 9th 1978.

Couple with dog at Vucciria market, Palermo.

Couple with dog at Vucciria market, Palermo.

Two teenagers pose in front of the camera. Palermo July 2015

Two teenagers pose in front of the camera. Palermo July 2015

An unauthorized parking attendant looks out for cars in search for a parking spot near Palermo's Central Station. September 2016

An unauthorized parking attendant looks out for cars in search for a parking spot near Palermo's Central Station. September 2016

Stray dogs in Albergheria district in the historical centra of Palermo

Stray dogs in Albergheria district in the historical centra of Palermo

A tourist shop in Palermo selling Brando's Godfather effimera. Palermo July 2009

A tourist shop in Palermo selling Brando's Godfather effimera. Palermo July 2009

A couple embraces in a passionate hug in the middle of a busy street in Palermo centre. 2015

A couple embraces in a passionate hug in the middle of a busy street in Palermo centre. 2015

A Costa Crociere cruising ship departs Palermo's harbour.

A Costa Crociere cruising ship departs Palermo's harbour.

A woman appears in distress while praying in front of the statue of Saint Padre Pio near the Central Train Station in Palermo.

A woman appears in distress while praying in front of the statue of Saint Padre Pio near the Central Train Station in Palermo.

A stray dog stares at an empty street in Danisinni district. Palermo July 2009

A stray dog stares at an empty street in Danisinni district. Palermo July 2009

A gate to nowhere on the hills overlooking Partinico, a village near palermo which is heavily controlled by the mob

A gate to nowhere on the hills overlooking Partinico, a village near palermo which is heavily controlled by the mob

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Two converging signs indicate "Exit" on the walls on the fish market in Trapani on the west coast of Sicily. July 2015
New development of council flats built in Porto Empedocle the very same site where the discharges of former mines lay untouched. Agrigento 2015
Pizzo Sella's abandoned residential development, better known as Michele Greco's Chirstmas Tree for it pyramidal shape, is the symbol of the Sack of Palermo, when former Mayor Salvo Lima and Mafia member and council assessor Vito Ciancimino unlawful
A couple chats along while sun-bathing in front of a foreclosed hotel in Trapani periphery.
Muted buildings in Cinisi, the village near Palermo where Peppino Impastato was brutalised by the Badalamenti's hit men.
A wedding invitee enjoys a cigarette outside the church.
A window riddled with bullets in the heart of Palermo city centre. 90% of business activities in the Sicilian capital pay extorsion money to the mob, despite the increasing successful campaign of Addiopizzo which supports store owners to denounce th
The wreath originally placed on rememberance of General Carlo Alberto Dall Chiesa lies uncared for and faced-down on the floor. Dalla Chiesa was murdered by Cosa nostra on September 3rd 1982 in the heart of the glamourous centre of Palermo.
Man outside his home in Palma di Montechiaro on the south coast of Sicily
170_MM_Lecture.jpg
A man is waiting for the bus at a vandalised bus top inb Palermo. March 2009
After years of neglet this strip on the south coast periphery of Palermo in Acqua dei Corsari, once used as an illegal dump for construction waste, was transformed in 2009 into a public park comprising of an open-air theatre, gardens and bicycle rou
Piles of uncollected refusals invade the carriage of a main road in Brancaccio district on the North-East periphery of Palermo.
Overview of a recent highway extension entangled within the North periphery of Palermo. September 2014
A fishmonger chats with a client at the historical street market of Capo in Palermo.
Valentina wearing a baroque mask at a friend's house.
177_MM_Lecture.jpg
A girl observes through her window in Cinisi, a village near Palermo, a demonstration in rememberance of anti-mafia activist and journalist Peppino Impastato killed by the Badalamenti mafia family on May 9th 1978.
Couple with dog at Vucciria market, Palermo.
Two teenagers pose in front of the camera. Palermo July 2015
An unauthorized parking attendant looks out for cars in search for a parking spot near Palermo's Central Station. September 2016
Stray dogs in Albergheria district in the historical centra of Palermo
A tourist shop in Palermo selling Brando's Godfather effimera. Palermo July 2009
A couple embraces in a passionate hug in the middle of a busy street in Palermo centre. 2015
A Costa Crociere cruising ship departs Palermo's harbour.
A woman appears in distress while praying in front of the statue of Saint Padre Pio near the Central Train Station in Palermo.
A stray dog stares at an empty street in Danisinni district. Palermo July 2009
A gate to nowhere on the hills overlooking Partinico, a village near palermo which is heavily controlled by the mob