Exhibition

Ritratti di un lavoro negato

May 7 – 28, 2026
Tue – Fri, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Limonaia di Villa Saroli, 
Viale S. Franscini 9, Lugano

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What does it mean to look for work today? What obstacles do many young people face on their professional journey? 

Portraits of Denied Work is a photographic project that seeks to make visible what often remains hidden: uncertainty, constant pressure, the need to be heard. Through a participatory photography workshop, young people have transformed experiences and emotions into images. The photographs tell stories of identities under construction, suspended between external expectations and the desire for authenticity, offering an honest look at the barriers — visible and invisible — to entering the world of work.

Promoted by Associazione L'ORA and curated by photographer Nathalie Vigini, Portraits of Denied Work is a project that brings together art, participation and social commitment, transforming photography into a tool for awareness, storytelling and change. The exhibition is a space for encounter and dialogue between young people and the community, organised as a travelling show across various exhibition venues in the Canton of Ticino, to reflect on the value of diversity and imagine a fairer and more inclusive labour market.

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