Home Sweet Home
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A magical, one-of-a-kind, immersive exhibition by Huaicun Zhang, from Thursday 23 July – Saturday 15 August 2026: 10am – 5pm, Mall Galleries, London. Admission £10 (Free for under 5s) – all profits going to children’s charity Pencil Tree CIO.
Preview
China’s award-winning children’s author and artist transforms Mall Galleries into a ‘living picture book,’ telling the story of childhood, migration and home. Visualisation of ‘Little Xian’s Garden’ (West Gallery) and Sock Forest (East Gallery) in the ‘Home Sweet Home’ exhibition. Plus, a whole host of daily creative activities, stories and songs for all the family.
Soak up charming, joyful paintings inspired by a childhood in China’s grasslands, while thousands of origami doves float above your head, and Chinese calligraphy flows beneath your feet. Meet a family of bears in search of socks to tell profound, universal lessons of love and acceptance, hear stories from the ‘Keeper of the Red House,’ unlocking the secrets and memories of five generations and explore the challenging emotions of childhood told through pen and ink. Introducing ‘Home Sweet Home’, a very special immersive exhibition and artistic experience for all the family showing at the Federation of British Artists’ Mall Galleries this summer.
The first show of its kind to be shown at Mall Galleries, ‘Home Sweet Home’ is the ambitious vision of award-winning Chinese children’s author (recipient of China’s prestigious Bing Xin Children’s Literature Award) and artist Huaicun Zhang Hon. RBA FRSA. A British-Chinese artist and storyteller, whose distinctive artwork speaks with a pure, energetic and disarming voice, Huaicun Zhang has brought together painting, illustration, literary storytelling and interactive installations to create a magical, and fully immersive exploration of the meaning of ‘home.’
Inspired by over thirty years of children’s storytelling - particularly her first fairy tale, Little Xian’s Garden and its accompanying picture book series - for just over three weeks the gallery will open up like a living picture book, with rooms filled with evocative artwork and heart-warming installations, all brought to life through light and sound.
There will also be a whole host of creative and interactive activities happening daily (and on specific days) for visitors of all ages to enjoy – make your own origami dove, design wings for a little ant, go on sock treasure hunts with bears in the Sock Forest and enjoy songs and storytelling throughout the exhibition.
From Thursday to Saturday, at selected times, a live performer in the role of the ‘Keeper of the Red House’ will appear inside the house in the West Gallery, opening up its intriguing objects, leading lamp-lit readings of stories and poems and inviting visitors to leave their own messages.
All profits from the exhibition’s ticket, artwork and merchandise sales will go to Pencil Tree CIO, a UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting children's creative education, emerging artists and international cultural exchange.
