White Rabbit Gallery

By Josh Ives

When I tell you to think of a white rabbit, you probably associate it with a cute cuddly mammal that hops around and fornicates like a… rabbit. You probably wouldn’t naturally connect such a cute little creature with something weird or macabre, right? Think again. Think harder and ponder the true meaning of the white rabbit: small things are probably starting to emerge in your subconscious now. White rabbits are the little furries yanked out of top-hats by magicians. Alice is guided down the rabbit-hole by a waistcoat-wearing, pocket-watch wielding white rabbit hurrying along mumbling about how late he is. Neo follows the white rabbit tattoo, leading him to discover the Matrix – and don’t even get me started on Donnie Darko!

In truth, white rabbits are steeped in weird and wonderful history. The phrase follow the white rabbit is a reference to following an idea or concept which may lead to a strange place. And that, my friends, is exactly where you’ll be going if you decide to head out to the White Rabbit Gallery and check out the Vile Bodies exhibition.

Created as one of the world’s biggest collections of contemporary Chinese art, the name Vile Bodies speaks for itself. An eclectic mix of visual ideas stand to challenge social norms and humanitarian issues, showcasing pure shock-factor art which will stop you dead in your tracks.

Opened in 2009 to showcase the weirdest conjurings of the human mind, owner Judith Neilson found herself inspired by shocking art she found during a trip to Beijing way back in 2001. Thrilled by the ‘creative energy and technical quality of the works’ she witnessed, she became determined to share these thought-provoking concepts with people around the world.

If you’ve ever stepped into the lounge of QT Sydney (if not, why not!) you will have noticed the weird and wacky instalments littered around the place. Legs for chairs and faceless mannequins surveying their surroundings are just an example. It’s part of our charm. But be prepared – our little funhouse hotel is pennies on the dollar compared with the trippy experience of the Vile Bodies exhibit. The exhibition displays pieces that some may find challenging or gruesome, but that’s the point, isn’t it? Art isn’t meant to be liked or hated, it exists to make us think – to challenge our perception of reality and broaden our minds.

Vile Bodies is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am -5pm and runs until Feb 5, 2017

It's a new week, we are open Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm with free guided tours at 11am and 2pm #vilebodies #admissionisfree #chippendale #sydney #contemporarychineseart #wow

A post shared by White Rabbit Gallery (@whiterabbitgallery) on Sep 20, 2016 at 6:22pm PDT