HOTA’S INTERACTIVE KINGDOM OF KINDNESS LAUNCHES THIS MARCH

HOTA, Home of the Arts announces its all-new interactive Children's Gallery exhibition, Kingdom of Kindness. Inspired by artwork from nationally recognised artist Abdul Abdullah, this inclusive exhibition will officially open to the public on Saturday, March 9.

In this free experience, families are invited to explore the artist's body of work about anthropomorphised rocks as they go on an immersive journey and experience a world of emotive connection, creativity and belonging. 

Kingdom of Kindness will feature immersive digital projections, multimedia interactives, and creative hands-on activities that explore the artist's painted landscapes and the psychology of pet rocks in fun and unexpected ways. 

Abdul's intricate paintings of rocks set against stunning landscapes will feature as large-scale digital projections in the HOTA Children's Gallery, while the artist's rocky characters will be brought to life through animation and a new digital live drawing program for families and young creatives to experience.

With a range of hands-on activities aiming to inspire play and creativity, the space will feature tic tac toe game boards, a mirrored wall of reflection and activity stations for families to get creative making kindness cards. An exhibition about rocks wouldn't be complete without a rock-climbing wall, where kids can safely climb and adventure while the adults rest and relax amongst a soft and comforting landscape of rocks.

Underpinning the artist's practice is the idea that 'belonging here is for everyone' and with this approach in mind, the HOTA Children's Gallery will transform into an inclusive space where children and adults alike can connect with the art through imaginative play and storytelling.

"We're thrilled to present this new exhibition for families by talented artist Abdul Abdullah. His work transcends the ordinary and invites children and their adults to share in an immersive experience that goes beyond the traditional confines of art exhibitions," said Susi Muddiman OAM, HOTA Gallery Director. 

"Abdul's artistic journey, marked by a deep exploration of identity and belonging, adds a meaningful layer to the Kingdom of Kindness and we hope that families will enjoy exploring and connecting in our Children's Gallery."

Abdul Abdullah is known for his multi-disciplinary approach with a strong commitment to inclusivity. Working across portraiture, photography and painting, his work has been shown extensively in Australia and overseas and is also held as part of the HOTA Collection. 

Abdullah is a seventh-generation Australian Muslim born in Perth and now lives and works in Sydney and Bangkok, Thailand. 

Kingdom of Kindness opens at the HOTA Children's Gallery on Saturday 9 March 2024 and entry is free to the public.

For more information on HOTA Gallery or the exhibition, visit their website.

- ENDS -

Amy Stalinescu | M10 Collective

E: amy@m10.com.au | M: 0411 789 195 

Emily Halloran | M10 Collective

E: emily@m10.com.au | M: 0432 041 137

IMAGES: Images available for download HERE

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Abdul Abdullah - Kingdom of Kindness

9 March 2024 - 21 July 2024 

HOTA Children's Gallery, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast

Open 10am-4pm daily - FREE 

ABOUT THE ARTIST 
Artist Abdul Abdullah was born 1986 in Perth, Australia and currently lives and works in Sydney and Bangkok, Thailand. Abdul is an Australian multi-disciplinary artist working across portraiture, photography and painting. As a self-described 'outsider amongst outsiders', his practice is primarily concerned with the experience of the 'other'. Abdullah's projects have engaged with marginalised communities, and he is particularly interested in the disconnect between perception of identity and the reality of lived experiences. With a Master of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Curtin University, Abdullah has been exhibiting since 2008 and his work has been shown extensively in major national exhibitions including The National, Primavera, Archibald Prize and Sulman Prize, in addition to solo exhibitions in Australia and overseas. Abdullah's work is held in the HOTA Collection, as well as the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA); the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Artbank, Sydney; University of Western Australia, Perth; Murdoch University, Perth; Islamic Museum of Australia, Melbourne; and Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW.

ABOUT EXPERIENCE GOLD COAST 
On 1 September 2023 HOTA joined Experience Gold Coast, a super entity which combined HOTA, Study Gold Coast, Destination Gold Coast, Placemakers* and Major Events Gold Coast in an exciting new chapter that will see the city's tourism, events, education, arts and culture portfolios working as one organisation focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for the city. 

ABOUT HOTA, HOME OF THE ARTS

Nestled in the heart of the Gold Coast, HOTA, Home of the Arts is an iconic destination where art, entertainment, culture and lifestyle intersect. Committed to fostering and supporting local talent, creativity, innovation and community engagement, HOTA is a catalyst for artistic expression and cultural exploration. With world-class facilities and a diverse range of programming, HOTA is a dynamic hub that enriches the arts and cultural landscape of the region. 

ABOUT HOTA GALLERY
HOTA Gallery is the $60.5M centrepiece of the Gold Coast's Cultural Precinct Masterplan and largest public gallery outside a capital city in Australia. Designed by international architects ARM and spanning six levels with over 2000m2 of AAA rated, international standard exhibition space, the HOTA Gallery features a 1000m2 main exhibition space, with the capacity for touring exhibitions of an international size and scale. It features 900m2 of exhibition space for the $35M City Collection and temporary exhibitions, a dedicated Children's Gallery and almost 1000m2 for collection storage and exhibition preparation.