Huaicun Zhang launched her latest solo exhibition “Home Sweet Home” with an immersive and vibrant opening evening at Mall Galleries in London on 23 July 2026. The much-loved and celebrated British-Chinese artist, poet and children’s author presented a unique exhibition that reflected the breadth of her creative talents and artistic imagination.
By Jian Ping Sun
This solo exhibition marks not only one of the most significant showcases by a British-Chinese artist at a leading Western art gallery in recent years, but also Huaicun Zhang’s return following five years of artistic development. Offering a retrospective reflection on her creative journey, the exhibition invites visitors into an immersive artistic world that seamlessly blends painting, calligraphy, literature, and elements of light and shadow.
Five years ago, Huaicun achieved remarkable success at this same prestigious venue with her debut solo exhibition, The World of Huaicun: Blossoming, which received widespread acclaim from critics and art lovers alike. That exhibition centred on capturing moments of beauty in everyday life, seeking purity of spirit, and celebrating the harmonious relationship between humanity and nature.
Huaicun was born at the foot of the Qilian Mountains in Qinghai, northwestern China, where the vast grasslands and snow-capped peaks became the foundation of her early life and instilled in her a deep reverence for nature. During her youth, she moved to Guangzhou for her education before later relocating to Hong Kong for several years. More than two decades ago, she settled in London, where she continues to live and work today. Home Sweet Home embodies a joyful return to her roots, reconnecting with her past while embracing hope and the possibilities of her future artistic journey.
Although Huaicun now lives and works far from her hometown, she has always carried the idea of “home” within her heart. She has travelled across the world, accompanied by childhood memories and culturally inherited stories that continue to shape her sense of belonging. In the face of today’s frequent conflicts, pandemics, displacement and social upheaval, she continues to explore and reinterpret the meaning of “home”.
Huaicun told the media that she and her daughter, Xianyan, had spent years curating and preparing this exhibition. She emphasised that “home” represents far more than the place where we are born and live; it is the starting point from which we pursue love, courage and hope.
This is not a traditional art exhibition. Rather, it is an invitation for every visitor who enters to rediscover forgotten childhood memories through whimsical imagery, reconnect with the softest corners of their own hearts, and experience the warmth, hope and vitality embodied by the idea of “home”.
Li Hai, Director of UK- China Culture Arts Exchange Centre, praised Huaicun’s storytelling ability, noting that she portrays “home” not just as a place of shelter, but as a spiritual sanctuary and a profound source of human connection.
Ben Marson, a special guest from The King’s Trust, told the media: “This exhibition feels really precious, very intimate, and it really brings home that sense of belonging—what it means to be at home. Wherever you are in the world, it’s that sense of family, how much it matters and how important it is.”
Huaicun believes that “home” is defined by the warmth, harmony and close relationships shared within a family—values that resonate across both Eastern and Western cultures. She hopes that when visitors step into the gallery, set aside their phones and leave behind the noise of everyday life, they will open their hearts and fully immerse themselves in the experience of Home, Sweet Home.
Curated by Dr Chen Xianyan, Home, Sweet Home runs until 16 August 2026 at Mall Galleries, London SW1Y 5AS. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
