Pritzker Prize Winner Liu Jiakun's First Major Solo Exhibition in Shanghai

The first major solo exhibition of Chinese architect Liu Jiakun, winner of the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, opened at the Power Station of Art (PSA) in Shanghai today.

Titled "Liu Jiakun: The Moon and The Well," the exhibition running through February 28, 2027, offers an in-depth look at more than three decades of the Chengdu-born architect's career.

Featuring architectural models, sketches, archival documents, photographs and installations, the exhibition explores how Liu's designs draw inspiration from local culture, everyday life and the relationship between people and their surroundings.

The show takes its name from a novel Liu wrote in the 1990s, which imagines an ideal city while questioning the tension between urban planning and the unpredictability of real life. The literary work provides a starting point for examining how architecture can improve people's lives while accommodating their complexity.

Divided into eight interconnected sections, the exhibition traces Liu's creative journey from his early explorations of literature and architecture to his distinctive approach to materials, public spaces and cultural preservation.

Highlights include the Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum, the Hu Huishan Memorial and West Village in Chengdu, his use of local materials, innovative construction methods and commitment to community-oriented design.

The exhibition also examines Liu's response to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, including his Rebirth Brick project, which transformed earthquake debris into building materials, reflecting his belief in architecture's social responsibility.

Other featured projects explore the transformation of industrial heritage and urban public spaces, demonstrating how architecture can preserve collective memories while adapting to contemporary needs.

The final section returns to Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, where Liu has spent much of his life and career, highlighting the provincial capital's enduring influence on his architectural philosophy.

Rather than focusing solely on buildings, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the connections between architecture, culture and everyday life.

If you go:

Date: November 14, 2026-February 28, 2027 (closed on Mondays, except public holidays), 11am-7pm

Admission: 60 yuan

Venue: 7/F, Power Station of Art

Address: 678 Miaojiang Rd

苗江路678号