Designed for both children and adults, the project explores universal experiences connected with childhood, family, growing up, migration and the search for one’s place in the world. The exhibition draws on Huaicun Zhang’s memories of growing up in the grasslands of north-west China, her many years of literary and artistic work, and her experience of living between different countries and cultures.

The artist was born into a family of Tu ethnicity and grew up amid the landscapes of Qinghai. She later lived in Hong Kong before moving to the United Kingdom. According to Zhang, for a long time home felt to her like a train that was always on the move. This experience led her to see home not simply as a geographical place, but as a continuation of memory, emotional bonds and cultural traditions.

The exhibition begins with «The Red House», a symbolic entrance into a world of memory. From Thursday to Saturday, the Keeper of the Red House appears there to welcome visitors, read stories and poems by lamplight, invite them to search for hidden objects and encourage them to leave their own messages about home.

In «Little Xian’s Garden», inspired by Zhang’s fairy tale of the same name, clouds and hundreds of paper birds folded by children float overhead, while the sounds of wind and birdsong fill the space. Chinese calligraphy moves across the floor, and images and lines of text seem to extend beyond the frames of the paintings. Little Xian, the heroine of many of the artist’s works, was inspired by Zhang’s daughter, who is now grown up.

In the North Gallery, visitors are invited to find «The Old Spider’s One Hundred Beds», ranging from the tiniest to the largest and hidden in unexpected places. The installation refers to a story about time, dreams and the invisible threads that connect human lives. The same gallery also features «The Forest Guardian», a scarecrow symbolising the disappearance of rural life and the moment when one’s native home becomes a memory. The atmosphere is enhanced by the sounds of old markets, the calls of street vendors and references to tanghulu, the traditional Chinese snack of candied hawthorn fruit.

One of the most playful parts of the project is «Sock Forest», inspired by four of Huaicun Zhang’s children’s books about a lost sock, a sock with a hole, a smelly sock and an odd sock. Seven large paintings are connected by a glowing thread, which becomes especially visible when the room darkens. Following it, children and adults search for clues, uncover stories and discover hidden details. At the centre of the forest, a family of bears is gathered for afternoon tea — an image of domestic warmth, care across generations and the simple rituals of family life.

The exhibition also includes a series of graphic works entitled «Small Stories, Big Feelings», created by the artist more than twenty years ago. These drawings explore anxiety, loneliness, fear, love, resilience and other emotions that children can find difficult to express in words. The works feel particularly relevant today, as increasing attention is being paid to children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Creative activities take place in the gallery every day. Visitors can fold an origami dove and add it to the collective installation, design wings for a little ant, draw their family story, write a letter to someone close to them or to their future self, take part in a search for lost socks, and leave a message about home, friendship and love. On Saturdays, visitors are invited to bring their own pair of socks and share the story behind them, while Sundays feature musical storytelling sessions for the whole family.

«The feelings and symbols presented in the exhibition form a universal emotional language. I wanted to create a space where children could imagine freely, while adults could remember the home that shaped their childhood and identity,» says Huaicun Zhang.

«Home Sweet Home» brings together more than thirty years of the artist’s work in literature and the visual arts. The exhibition features oil paintings, watercolours, ink and pencil drawings, calligraphy, book illustration, and light and sound installations.

All proceeds from ticket sales, artworks, books and merchandise will support the work of the UK-registered charity Pencil Tree CIO, which promotes children’s creative education, supports emerging artists and encourages international cultural exchange.

«Home Sweet Home»

Dates: 23 July–15 August 2026
Opening hours: Daily, 10 am–5 pm
Venue: Mall Galleries, West, East and North Galleries, London
Admission: £10
Children under five: Free. Advance booking is recommended

School and organisation bookings:
[email protected]

Organiser and charity partner:
Pencil Tree CIO