Decay and Reconstruction: The Power of Water

Andrea Polichetti’s first museum solo exhibition in China was presented at Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art in Nanjing, with exhibition sponsorship and artwork production support from COLLECTA.

From 13 April to 5 July 2026, Andrea Polichetti’s solo exhibition Decay and Reconstruction: The Power of Water was presented in the Tunnel space at Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art in Nanjing. Curated by Liu Yunfeng, the exhibition formed the ninth edition of the BMCA Tunnel Project.

The exhibition marked Polichetti’s second solo presentation in China following his Shanghai exhibition, and his first solo exhibition at a Chinese museum. It developed from the artist’s site-based research during the COLLECTA Shenzhen residency and included neon and wrought-iron sculptures, a neon installation, and a large-scale serigraphy on glass.

Focusing on water as a vital force, the exhibition examined its movement and corrosive effects in relation to architecture, material, and time. The theme emerged from the history of the Tunnel space, where an artificial waterfall once flowed along the mountain ridge before the museum was constructed. The works connected these spatial traces and material memories with the changing conditions of the contemporary environment.

Title: Decay and Reconstruction: The Power of Water
Artist: Andrea Polichetti
Curator: Yunfeng Liu
Venue: Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art
Supporting Institution: Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, No Name Studio, COLLECTA

Andrea Polichetti, <Untitled, Architecture #8>, installation view of "Decay and Reconstruction: The Power of Water” Exhibition, Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art, Nan Jing

Andrea Polichetti, <Light/Consumption>, installation view of "Decay and Reconstruction: The Power of Water” Exhibition, Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art, Nan Jing

Andrea Polichetti in the exhibition opening

Andrea Polichetti, <Reconstruction>, installation view of "Decay and Reconstruction: The Power of Water” Exhibition, Beiqiu Museum of Contemporary Art, Nan Jing

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