In it, there is still, cloudy, silty New Zealand river water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.
The exhibit, titled Aqua Vitae, presents jugs of water taken from various South Island rivers surrounded by drinking glasses beneath laser inkjet images of women on canvas.
The jugs are filled with water from the Kakanui, Orari, Temuka, Waitaki and Waianakarua rivers, and are flanked by depictions of women representing each river.
The accompanying words of artist Claire Earlie Maxwell warn of the diminishing quality of our river water.
"The viewer is invited to look at the image and then at the water from the river it represents," the explanation reads.
"The unappetising brew helps the artist to stir up the debate of river pollution and what needs to be done about it.
"Without some kind of intervention our rivers are in jeopardy."
The sign explains that the women depicted have been included in the hope of raising awareness.
"I have to attract attention to the rivers. Pretty much everyone looks at beautiful women.
"The woman is the river. Go speak to her and see how you can help her survive.
"Drink her water, if you dare!"
When contacted on Tuesday, Otago Regional Council water quality scientist Rachel Ozanne said that while the exhibit was a "neat idea", which had created quite a debate in her office, people should not dare to drink untreated river water.
"Our rivers and streams do not go through water treatment plants," she said. "If a water sample has less than 260 E.coli per 100ml of sample, the river should be very safe for swimming - but not drinking.
She said the most common illnesses from drinking untreated river water were those of the gastric-intestinal system, and infections of the eye, ear, nose and throat.
Other potentially more harmful diseases possibly present included giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis.
"Saying that, some of our rivers and lakes have drinking-water quality - but you can never be sure," she said.
The exhibition will run until September 25.
