This exhibition is closely related to the campaign launched by Switzerland tourism to promote the majesty of water. This theme reminds us that Switzerland is the land of water with its 7000 lakes and alpine pools, thousands of kilometres of rivers, infinite waterfalls, canyons, caverns, caves and springs breathing life into four famous watercourses flowing into distant seas. This natural resource is one of Switzerland's key assets: abundant water is the reason why our nature is so lush and why conditions are so perfect for agriculture and farming. This abundance has allowed us to intelligently harness water throughout virtually every phase of its cycle: here in Switzerland we have been able to exploit the only natural energy resource at our disposal through the use of powerful hydroelectric power stations, dams, and artificial lakes; we have also managed to harness rivers for transport and enhance the countless evocative landscapes generously created by water. These natural features include the glaciers which so amazed the first tourists to Switzerland back in the 18th century, together with the snowbound mountains which turned Switzerland into the world’s winter sports capital, ancient gorges which inspired legends and tales, and rivers which offer astounding spectacles such as the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest.Without water, there is no life.
Water is unique and its inestimable value is an outstanding resource for tourists, a natural heritage to which a canton like Ticino owes so much. The 32 posters displayed remind us of this special identify, inspiring greater awareness as to the importance of this precious, irreplaceable resource which must be protected so that it can be passed on, unsullied, to future generations.

Artistic consultation and texts by Paolo Blendinger

The exhibition was organized with the help of Hans Kaspar Schiesser, UTP Bern