Presentation of the book 'Satira dell'architetto' and guided tour of the exhibition

Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 6 p.m.
Book presentation and guided tour of the exhibition
Teatro dell'architettura Mendrisio
Free admission

The Teatro dell'architettura Mendrisio and Mendrisio Academy Press are pleased to invite the public to the presentation of the book "Satira dell'architetto. Controstoria di una professione attraverso la caricatura" by Gabriele Neri. The author Gabriele Neri and Marco Della Torre, coordinator of USI's Academy of architecture, will discuss the themes of the book.

This will be followed by a guided tour of the exhibition ‘ARCHISATIRE. Una controstoria dell'architettura’ currently on display at the TAM, led by curator Gabriele Neri.

The book
Satira dell'architetto. Controstoria di una professione attraverso la caricatura
by Gabriele Neri
Lezioni di architettura series
Mendrisio Academy Press / Edizioni Casagrande
€18 / CHF 18

From the seventeenth century to the present day, caricatures, cartoons and comic strips published in newspapers, magazines and now also on social media channels have presented an unconventional image of the architectural profession, far removed from the more familiar celebratory portraits. As Gabriele Neri writes, “it is an altered image: caricature distorts, exaggerates and deforms its subject. But it is precisely this exaggeration that brings out interesting features: between personal attacks and clichés extended to the entire profession, the countless variations of graphic satire show us architects from unconventional perspectives that are rarely explored by official historiography”. The original gallery of illustrations published in this volume undoubtedly demonstrates what Neri states from the outset: satire's great attention to architecture attests to the importance of the public and social role of this extraordinary profession.