SESC Pompéia indoor pond replicated for Lina Bo Bardi exhibition in Shanghai
International studio Open Architecture drew on Lina Bo Bardi's own designs when creating The Poetics of Survival, the first major exhibition of the architect's work in China.
The studio centred the exhibition, which is on show at the Power Station of Art (PSA) gallery in Shanghai, around "a single continuous curve".
This shape was created by using hanging linen curtains in the rectangular art gallery, where they surround rectilinear display cases custom-made by Open Architecture.
In PSA's lobby, the studio created a replica of the indoor pond designed by Bardi for the SESC Pompéia community centre in 1977, though they didn't make it as permanent as the original.
"In Lina's version, the pond embodies the São Francisco River, which runs across Brazil," the studio said.
"It was 'transported' to Shanghai at its original scale. However, in the PSA gallery, it is not embedded into the ground as it does at SESC Pompéia, but instead, appears to levitate slightly above the ground surface."
To add interest, Open Architecture filled the pond with pebbles in a variety of sizes and added a water feature that sees water drip from the ceiling.
In the main exhibition spaces, the studio created freestanding "islands" for the architectural models and other key exhibition pieces.
The exhibition was divided into nine spaces, which highlight Bardi's work through a mix of media – including sketches, photographs and videos.
The Poetics of Survival features large-scale projections that move across the linen curtains, creating a dynamic feel, and the exhibition texts are also silkscreen-printed directly onto the linen.
As well as the display cabinets, Open Architecture custom-made some furniture pieces for the space, including a bench made from wooden beams and a glass, latticed wood and concrete divider in the lobby.
The studio hoped that the design for The Poetics of Survival will give visitors a feel for what inspired Bardi.
"Presenting Lina's work within a setting that is informed by her own design ethos and sensibility allows audiences to encounter not only her work, but also get a sense of the world that inspired it," Open Architecture said.
"Therefore, Lina's work and the exhibition, together, become a stage where the audience get a glimpse of the everyday reality of Brazil in Lina's time."
Other recent exhibitions include a contemporary design show in a neo-gothic house in Belgium and an exhibition about Brasília set within Oscar Niemeyer's Bienal Pavilion in São Paulo.
The photography is by Chen Hao, courtesy of Open Architecture.
The Poetics of Survival is on show at The Power Station of Art, 678 Miaojiang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China 200011 from July 25 to October 25 2026. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.
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