The Photographer of Milan, Milan as you've never seen it – “Simply Milan” by A. Cherchi
An event was held on Thursday 3 October in Morimondo which saw the enthusiastic participation of over 50 people, all of whom came to attend the presentation of the famous photographer and journalist Andrea Cherchi. Founder of the Facebook page “Simply Milan”, followed by hundreds of thousands of users.
Andrea is known for his extraordinary visual narrative of the Milanese city. His images, which have found space in leading publications such as Corriere della Sera, Il Sole 24 Ore, Where You Travel, Millionaire and others, have become a reference for those who wish to see Milan from new perspectives. Particularly significant was Cherchi's role as a visual narrator during the lockdown, a period in which he immortalized a deserted but also supportive Milan, sharing his daily reportage through social media. In recent years, Andrea has embraced a personal mission: to bring the beauty of the city to those who, due to health issues or disabilities, cannot explore it in person. Morimondo's meeting wanted to mark the beginning of a collaboration which includes, among other things, the projection of his photographs at the Riccardo Pampuri Retirement Home, to let the elderly experience the emotion of seeing Milan with new eyes. During the event, Cherchi said he took almost 5 million photographs of the city and its surrounding areas. At Morimondo he presented a selection of around 50 images, some of the most famous views of Milan, alongside lesser-known views. He illustrated how many of his photos were taken from above, but strictly without the use of drones. In fact, all the shots were taken from helicopters or small planes taking off from Bresso airport, thus underlining the authenticity of his art. Andrea also shared fascinating anecdotes, capturing the audience's attention: from the secrets hidden above the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, where clocks were once synchronized of the city, to the photo taken precisely at the point where the architect Mengoni lost his life in mysterious circumstances. There was no shortage of curious stories linked to tourists and the tradition of the bull under the tunnel, and just as many intriguing tales about lesser-known corners of Milan. The evening gave those present a unique and evocative vision of the city: the new buildings that blend with history, as in Piazza Buonarroti, where the statue of Giuseppe Verdi stands out between the skyscrapers of CityLife and the historic retirement home for musicians dedicated to him. The events in Piazza Duomo, the unexpected discoveries such as a bell tower hidden among the buildings or a small statue of "Liberty" reminiscent of the famous New York statue of the same name. For the future, Cherchi has a new photographic project dedicated to the Morimondo Abbey in the pipeline, with the aim of bringing his images also to the retirement home, creating a visual bridge between past and present, between the "old" and the "new" Milan. Without a doubt, we will hear more about the collaboration between Andrea Cherchi and the Rotary Club of Morimondo.
