This summer, a magical fairytale world awaits you. A new exhibition is on its way to London, and it invites you to step directly into the warmth and whimsy of a living children’s picture book, enchanting kids and adults alike.
Based on stories and visuals crafted by award-winning British-Chinese writer and artist Huaicun Zhang, Home Sweet Home is a walk-through storytelling experience that explores the meaning of home. Themes of family, memory, and belonging are at the heart of the exhibition. Here, paintings come to life through light and sound, interactive spaces wait to be discovered, and storytelling evokes a nostalgic sense of wonder.
Children will dream – and adults will pause and remember their own childhood and sense of home. One of the most unique and touching exhibitions you’ll come across this summer, it will be on for just over three weeks at Mall Galleries, from July 23 to August 15.
What to expect at Home Sweet Home, the enchanting exhibition that transports you into a living picture book
Home Sweet Home will transform Mall Galleries into an immersive, story-led environment. You’ll walk through a series of interconnected spaces brought of life by paintings, illustrations, and tales, drawn from Huaicun Zhang’s picture books.
As you step inside this world shaped by imagination and childhood wonder, you’ll encounter artworks, tactile installations, and of course plenty of storytelling, resonating across generations. The multisensory spaces, interactive experiences, and small objects make the experience playful and poetic, and you will find yourself pondering what shapes our family bonds and shared memories.
On your walk through this living picture book, you’ll meet a host of enchanting characters – a family of bears searching for socks, and even the ‘Keeper of the Red House’, who guards the memories and secrets of generations. You’ll fall in love with charming and joyful art inspired by a childhood in China’s grasslands, the thousands of origami doves that float above your head, and the Chinese calligraphy that flows beneath your feet.
Interactive and creative activities for kids and adults alike
A variety of creative, hands-on activities will take place within the magical exhibition spaces over the weeks, not just for kids but for all ages. Try your hand at making your own origami dove, design wings for a little ant, or go on a hunt for socks with the bears in the Sock Forest.
From Thursday to Saturday, at select times, you will also get to watch the ‘Keeper of the Red House’ in an absorbing performance, opening up intriguing objects, reading stories and poems in a cosy setting, and inviting you to leave a message of your own.
Home Sweet Home will show at Mall Galleries from July 23 to August 15. You can already get tickets to the exhibition – admission is £10 for adults and free for children under five.
All proceeds from ticket, artwork, and merch sales will go to Pencil Tree CIO, a UK-registered charity dedicated to supporting children’s creative education, emerging artists, and international cultural exchange.
