Thirst: In Search of Freshwater

Dry and worthy exhibition at the Wellcome Collection exploring thirst and water.

The show explored the political, environmental, health and sociological implications of water scarcity both now and in the past bearing in mind only 3% of the world’s water is fresh. As the introduction said it “flows through the conditions of Aridity, Rain, Glaciers, Surface Water and Groundwater”.

I learnt lot from the show but I didn’t find it very engaging. I did like the way it wove together past and present but there was a lot to read and learn so it felt a bit preachy. I didn’t find the contemporary art pieces added anything to the narrative although I did like Dala Nasser’s “Mineral Lick” shown here.

Favourite pieces a cartoon from Punch in 1869 describing a Victorian version of SAD, a Roman waterpipe and a section on the healing wells of London at St Pancras and Sadler’s Wells.

Closed 1 February 2026


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