Wellcome Collection

Videoart / Documentary

“Arab Fluids” documents qanats in Palermo, still used in what is left of the prosperous “Conca d’Oro” citrus orchards, and the abandoned subterranean canals in Palermo — both integral to cultural heritage yet largely unacknowledged. It explores the reminiscence of this past tradition, journeying through sites and atmospheres linking Palermo’s under- and overground worlds.

Director: Dario Di Liberti

Producer: Francesca Gattello

Promoted by LOTs – Libero Osservatorio Territoriale sud and CAVE STUDIO.

Project Type: Documentary, Short, Experimental – Runtime: 7 minutes 51 seconds – Year: 2025 – Country of Filming: Italy – Language: Italian

The exhibition at Wellcome Collection in London curated by Janice Li: Structured around five interconnected themes – Aridity, Rain, Glaciers, Surface Water, and Groundwater – the exhibition takes visitors on a terrain-led journey, revealing freshwater’s significance as a source of life, its mismanagement as a cause of disaster, and its role in shaping ecological and social realities. Thirst is a universal human experience shared with most living beings. With only 3% of the water on Earth being freshwater, our land thirsts too. ‘Thirst: In Search of Freshwater’ explores humanity’s vital connection with freshwater as an essential source of life and pillar of good health. From ancient Mesopotamia and Victorian London to modern-day Nepal and Singapore, the exhibition highlights the vital role of freshwater in shaping health and ecosystems; the consequences of mismanagement, like the spread of infectious disease; and community-led solutions to the global water crisis.