"We are not bystanders to change; we are immersed within it." — Michael Najjar
Fotografiska Shanghai is proud to present Morphing Equilibrium, a major solo exhibition by internationally renowned artist, explorer, and future astronaut Michael Najjar. On view from 16 January to 17 May 2026, this exhibition is a site-specific creation by Najjar for Shanghai, employing his signature monumental visuals and forward-looking perspective to invite audiences to examine our profoundly changing planet and its future.
Najjar's practice consistently navigates the intersection of art, technology, and exploration. He is not merely an observer behind the lens but an active participant who immerses himself in Earth's most extreme environments — from dormant volcanoes to Arctic glaciers, from skyscraper summits to astronaut training centers. 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.
In addition to these key works, the exhibition will premiere new video segments created specifically for its 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.
This exhibition is thus more than a visual experience; it 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.
