Angelo Bellobono's Linea1201: Painting the Eroding Landscapes of Valsamoggia

On September 6, 2020, artist Angelo Bellobono arrived in Bazzano, Italy, for the third stage of his Linea1201 project, hosted by Fondazione Rocca dei Bentivoglio. He was guided by director Elio Rigillo to the Officina Gino Pellegrini, the former studio of set designer Gino Pellegrini, now a secluded farmhouse within a nature reserve. Bellobono's focus was on the calanchi—eroded clay formations typical of the Apennines—which he sees as symbols of fragility and tension. He placed a 2.5-meter canvas on a slope as a 'pictorial trap' to capture traces of the landscape, later working with clay found at the site. During his residency (September 7–13), he also explored the area's rich wildlife, including deer, wolves, wild boar, pheasants, and buzzards, noting the wolf's role in controlling ungulate populations. He led a workshop called 'Taccuini selvaggi' with local children, showing them signs of a recent wolf-boar fight. The project is documented on Nos Production's website.