Sophia Loren – Chiasso Cultural Center, Switzerland

Sophia Loren: the myth of beauty drawn with light

The exhibition Sophia Loren: the myth of beauty drawn with light is part of the series that the m.a.x. museum periodically dedicates to photography. Through the concept of “drawing with light”, the exhibition retraces the most iconic images of Sophia Loren at key moments in her life, during the filming of her famous films or in more personal contexts, immortalised by some of the greatest photographers of the time. The exhibition fits perfectly with the guiding theme of the Chiasso Cultural Centre for 2025-2026, pulchritudo, understood as an expression of harmony between body and spirit.
The m.a.x. museum displays around two hundred images, most of them vintage, arranged according to a thematic-chronological criterion, spanning sixty years of Sophia Loren’s life and conveying to visitors the deepest emotions that the great diva was able to evoke, both in films (over a hundred) and in life.
Born in Rome and raised in Pozzuoli (Naples), Sophia Loren chose to live in Geneva, Switzerland: the exhibition aims to highlight this dual identity, creating a cultural bridge between Switzerland and Italy. The exhibition is sponsored by the Italian Embassy in Bern and the Italian Consulate General in Lugano.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue in Italian and English with a rich iconographic apparatus containing all the images of the works on display and critical texts by internationally renowned scholars, as well as the actress’s biography.

A packed calendar of events (conferences, guided tours, educational workshops, film screenings, meetings and debates) enriches the exhibition.

Exhibition curated by Francesco Casetti, Angela Madesani and Nicoletta Ossanna Cavadini.