Tank Shanghai Opens in Converted Aircraft Fuel Tanks

Tank Shanghai, a new museum by collector Qiao Zhibing, has opened on the Huangpu River in Shanghai, transforming five decommissioned aircraft fuel tanks into an expansive exhibition space. The project, designed by Open Architecture, spans a 60,000-square-meter recreational park with galleries, gardens, shops, and restaurants. Two tanks serve as art galleries—one a white cube for delicate works, the other retaining its industrial character for large-scale installations—while three become multifunctional spaces for exhibitions, leisure, and sports. The opening exhibitions include "Under Construction," a group show featuring Chinese artists Fanzhi, Yang Fudong, and Ding Yi; "Universe of Water Particles in the Tank" by teamLab, an interactive digital experience; and a solo show by Argentine artist Adrián Villar Rojas, "Sometimes you wonder, in an interconnected universe, who is dreaming who?," previously hosted at Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. Qiao Zhibing, who made his fortune from karaoke bars, owns works by Theaster Gates, Olafur Eliasson, Michaël Borremans, and Damien Hirst. The museum was originally slated for 2017 but delayed until 2019, with Qiao citing full support from the Chinese government, which aims to develop a "museum road" in the West Bund district, home to the West Bund Art & Design fair since 2014. The project honors the site's industrial past while reconnecting art, nature, and urban life.