REFORMATION AT WHITE RABBIT GALLERY

By Benjamen Judd

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White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale is a must-see for anyone who wants their art served with a side of urban cool and some of the most delicious traditional teas this side of Shanghai. Since opening in 2009, White Rabbit Gallery has become one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art. The Gallery space, a Rolls-Royce service depot in the 1940s, was completely refitted as an exhibition space.

Since the Gallery can house only a fraction of the Collection at any one time, there are two new exhibitions a year, each involving a full rehang; for this reason the Gallery closes during installations but they have now just opened their doors for us to experience their tenth, and first for 2014, show – Reformation.

“Reforms are the trademark of modern China. Few nations have changed so much so fast, or been so traumatised in the process. In the 1890s, an emperor who ordered Western-style reforms was overthrown by his courtiers. In the mid 20th century, the Maoists reformed China by force, killing all who stood in their way. When that project failed, Deng Xiaoping launched a counter-reformation, easing the Party’s grip on people’s lives and “opening up” China to the world.

REFORMATION explores the cutting edge of this vibrant scene through more than 50 works, including painting-sculptures, mechanical art, sensor-linked videos, and installations on an architectural scale. Most have never been shown in Australia, and many were created in the past year or two. Now, under the one roof are the best of China’s new contemporary artists: confident, audacious, commercially savvy, the boldest experimenters in what the head of China’s national art academy calls “the most experimental country in the world”

Reformation is now showing at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale and will run until August 3. Entry is free.