HOTA, Home of the Arts is set to welcome its next major exhibition this weekend presenting key works from the White Rabbit Collection, one of the world’s most significant and influential holdings of contemporary Chinese art.
Inspired by the 2009 poem titled THIS MOMENT by Chinese experimental poet/musician Yan Jun, This Moment: Highlights from the White Rabbit Collection of Chinese Contemporary Art brings together 25 artists showcasing 35 artworks in a compelling selection.
Capturing the spirit of 21st-century China, this extraordinary exhibition features bold, experimental artworks produced over the last 25 years that interrogate authority, reclaim history and reflect profound social change. Together, the works reveal extraordinary technical mastery and deep cultural nuance, spanning sound and light-based installations, video, photography, painting, and monumental sculpture.
This Moment offers audiences a rare opportunity to engage with bold and thought-provoking works through diverse forms and perspectives, the works illuminate how contemporary Chinese artists are shaping new visual languages while engaging with their historical and social contexts.
“Having my work in the White Rabbit Collection feels like a quietly joyful affirmation, an intimate recognition that my stories matter within a space devoted to contemporary Chinese voices,” Artist, Guo Jian said.
“Seeing those pieces shown at HOTA in This Moment, alongside other Chinese artists while I live in Australia, warms me: it folds together my memory and my present, opening gentle conversations between cultures and reminding me that my perspective belongs in both places.”
Founded in 2009 by philanthropist Judith Neilson, the White Rabbit Collection has been built through extensive research and travel across China. The collection is internationally recognised for its commitment to presenting Chinese artists who challenge perspectives and spark meaningful dialogue.
“For this exhibition, I was invited to revisit a poem I wrote in 2009,” Poet, Yan Jun, said.
“It means a great deal to me and I’m grateful that it will be presented in Australia as part of this exhibition of Chinese contemporary art. In the sunshine over there, and in the presence of the present moment, the past is no longer a ghost.”
Presented during a time of ongoing global and cultural shift, the exhibition invites audiences into dialogue with Chinese artists responding to questions of identity, censorship, memory, tradition, and transformation.
“Hosting an exhibition of this calibre and depth has cemented HOTA’s reputation within Australia as a beacon for art and visual expression,’’ Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said.
“I cannot stress how significant it is to feature This Moment: Highlights from the White Rabbit Collection. It comes at a time when contemporary Chinese artists are seeking to express themselves through new visual languages, without losing sight of their country’s history and social structure.”
“Anyone looking for a magical and thought-provoking display of Chinese art must take time to visit HOTA.’’
Artists featured in the exhibition include Geng Xue, Guo Jian, LuYang, Peng Hung-Chih, Xu Zhen, Zhang Dali and Zhang Peili.
“Presenting White Rabbit Collection at HOTA is a significant moment for our gallery,” HOTA Gallery General Manager, David Don said.
“The collection is internationally recognised for its fearless approach to contemporary art, and this exhibition allows audiences to engage with some of the most compelling artistic voices working today.”
This landmark presentation marks a significant moment for HOTA Gallery, bringing an internationally acclaimed collection to the Gold Coast as a Queensland exclusive offering. The exhibition will offer audiences and visitors to the region a rare opportunity to encounter a collection of work by artists of global significance.
A public program of In Conversation talks, tours and workshops will accompany the exhibition, offering deeper insight into the artists, ideas and cultural contexts shaping the works on display.
For visitors looking to linger a little longer and take their tastebuds on a journey, Palette restaurant will add a unique flavour to the exhibition, unveiling its 12th exhibition tasting menu curated by Executive Chef, Dayan Hartill-Law, with dishes that utilise the techniques, ingredients and flavours of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
This Moment: Highlights from the White Rabbit Collection of Chinese Contemporary Art
18 April 2026 until 11 October 2026
HOTA Gallery, Gallery 1, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
Free daily, 10am – 4pm
For more information visit:
https://hota.com.au/whats-on/live/exhibitions/the-white-rabbit-collection-of-chinese-contemporary-art
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