Hic Sunt Leones Exhibition Swiss Borders Frontalieri | Frontaliere Ticino
Hic Sunt Leones Exhibition Swiss Borders Frontalieri — free tools and expert guides for cross-border workers (frontalieri) between Switzerland and Italy. Compare salaries, tax, LAMal health insurance, pensions, and cost of living in Ticino. Updated 2026.
Context
For tens of thousands of cross-border workers, or frontalieri, it's a daily ritual. A passage, often hurried, that marks the beginning and end of the workday. But what does a border crossing truly represent? Is it just an administrative line or a place laden with meaning? The photography project "Hic Sunt Leones" by Gabriele Spalluto, which will be exhibited in Lugano starting February 3, 2026, addresses these questions. Between March 2022 and March 2023, Spalluto undertook a systematic journey along the Swiss borders, photographing all 175 crossings that housed a service office. From heavily trafficked ones like Chiasso-Brogeda and Ponte Tresa to smaller, almost forgotten ones, each shot captures the essence of these liminal spaces. The result is a collection of images that, as the event presentation describes, "question us on the symbolic and practical value of such places: anonymous on one hand, full of value on the other." ## A Project that Speaks to Frontalieri The exhibition, hosted at the Canvetto Luganese - Fondazione Diamante in Molino Nuovo, is not just an artistic event but a genuine reflection on the condition of the frontaliere. Those places, seen and revisited every day, are decontextualized and presented in a new light, inviting a pause for thought. The exhibition will remain open until May 2, 2026, offering everyone the opportunity to see their daily border transformed into a work of art. The opening on February 18, 2026, will feature a dialogue with the artist moderated by Mara Travella, director of the Casa della Letteratura.
Operational details
The project "Hic Sunt Leones" (literally "here be lions," a phrase used on ancient maps to indicate unexplored territories) takes on particular importance in the current socio-economic context of Ticino. The border is no longer just a geographical line but a complex web of regulations, agreements, and perceptions that are constantly changing. ## The Border as a Political and Economic Space For a frontaliere, the crossing represents the point of contact between two very different economic and fiscal realities. It is the place where the effects of the new tax agreement between Italy and Switzerland, effective from 2024, materialize, redesigning the rules for 'new' frontalieri. It is the thermometer of the Swiss franc-euro exchange rate fluctuations, which directly impact purchasing power and salary value. And it is, unfortunately, also the stage for political tensions, such as those related to the recent introduction of the controversial 'health tax' by the Italian government. > The images question us on the symbolic and practical value of such places: anonymous on one hand, full of value on the other. Spalluto's photography, in its apparent neutrality, captures this complexity. An empty customs office, a road sign, a metal barrier: mundane elements that become powerful symbols of the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border work. The exhibition thus becomes a mirror in which the frontalieri community can recognize its own experience, made up of routine but also of constant adaptations to an evolving regulatory framework.
Key points
Visiting this exhibition can be an enlightening experience, a way to look with different eyes at a place that is part of one's daily life. It is an invitation to reflect on what 'border' means in 2026, in a Europe of open frontiers but with increasingly complex and specific regulations. ## Practical Advice and Economic Reflections Beyond the artistic and symbolic reflection, crossing the border remains a profoundly practical act with immediate economic consequences. Every frontaliere knows well that their financial well-being depends on a series of variables that materialize at the very moment they receive their payslip in Swiss francs. 💡 Checklist for the Frontaliere: - Check the impact of the new tax agreement: Are you an 'old' or 'new' frontaliere? The taxation rules change radically. - Monitor the exchange rate: Even minor fluctuations can have a big impact on your net salary in euros. - Understand your payslip: Are you familiar with all deductions (AVS/AI/IPG, LPP, withholding tax)? While Spalluto's art offers us a higher perspective, daily reality requires concrete tools to navigate the economic complexity of working in Ticino. Understanding exactly how much of your gross salary will become net pay is the first step towards effective financial planning. For this reason, tools like our net salary calculator become essential for having a clear and precise view of your finances. (Source: Ticinonline, 18.02.2026)