Pope Leo XIV inaugurated the AQVA – Catastrophe and Wonder exhibition at the Vatican Library on September 14, 2023. This exhibition provides visitors with the opportunity to enter the exhibition space through a 70-meter installation called Diluvium, an artwork created by French street artist JR. This piece is the first specific work for the exterior space of a library built in the 16th century.
Water: Source of Life and Destructive Force
This exhibition features artworks and rare books that examine the role of water as a source of life as well as its destructive power. Works by American artist Bill Moran and Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini are displayed alongside the book "Aquatilium animalium historiae," which is a study of fish and aquatic animals published 470 years ago by Italian naturalist Ippolito Salviati.
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Water Damage to Manuscripts and Restoration Works
The AQVA exhibition also examines the damage that water can cause to ancient manuscripts, as well as the role that water plays in the restoration of these works. This topic is particularly important for researchers and lovers of rare and historical books in Europe and beyond.
Additionally, the AQVA exhibition marks the beginning of a five-year project at the Vatican Library titled Catastrophe and Wonder, which will later address topics such as fire, light, insects, and human intervention.
This exhibition will begin on September 25, 2026, and will continue until May 14, 2027, with special days open to the public. This opportunity allows citizens of Europe and other parts of the world to familiarize themselves with various aspects of water and its impacts on human life and culture.
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