'Morphing Equilibrium': Najjar's Evolving Visual Narrative About Earth

"Morphing Equilibrium," a major solo exhibition by world-renowned artist, explorer and future astronaut Michael Najjar, is on view at Fotografiska Shanghai.

The exhibition, scheduled to run through May 17, 2026, is a site-specific creation by Najjar for Shanghai, inviting audiences to examine our profoundly changing planet and its future through his signature monumental visuals and forward-looking perspective.

Born in Germany in 1966, Najjar is known for working closely at the intersection of art, science and technology. He is not merely an observer behind the lens but an active participant who immerses himself in Earth's most extreme environments.

The core video works featured in this exhibition, "Liquid landscape" and "Arctic dystopia," are the direct results of his field work in Iceland's volcanic regions and the High Arctic. Within these frames, the flow of lava and the rupture of ice transcend mere natural spectacle, becoming powerful visual metaphors for understanding the current state of "dynamic imbalance" in our world.

The exhibition's title, "Morphing Equilibrium," is drawn from ecological theory, referring to a system's relative stability amidst constant change. Najjar adopts this concept to probe how humanity might confront an increasingly "liquefied" global order in the 21st century – an era defined by climate change, technological acceleration and geopolitical shifts. His imagery, reconstructed through cutting-edge filming and digital techniques, creates a kind of "post-natural" landscape that evokes awe at Earth's primordial vitality while unflinchingly acknowledging its fragility.

The exhibition also premieres new video segments created specifically for the Shanghai presentation. Through his continuous global journeys and interdisciplinary collaborations, Najjar weaves his long-standing reflections on future cities, space exploration and biotechnology into an evolving visual narrative.

More than a visual experience, the exhibition is an invitation to reflection – asking viewers, while immersed in the beauty of our planet, to contemplate their own role in shaping our shared future.

Date: Through May 17

Opening hours: 10:30am-11pm (Last entry at 10pm)

Venue: Fotografiska Shanghai

Address: 127 Guangfu Road, Jing'an District

静安区光复路127号

Admission: 80-100 yuan (US$11-14)