THE National Gallery of Australia is off to a cracking start with its newest installation, “Play 201301”, by controversial Chinese artist Xu Zhen.

At  first glimpse the huge  installation may look like a Disney castle, but closer  examination reveals that it made up entirely of equipment related to bondage, dominance-submission and sadomasochistic practice —leather, chains, zippers, studs, and much more.

According to curator of Asian Art at the gallery, Lucie Folan, and lots of ‘readings’ are possible. Xu Zhen is known for his examinations of power dynamics in the art world, but with so many suggestions of cathedrals visible in the work, it could also relate to power dynamics in the church. In the context of China, she suggests, there is also the censorship issue, with a comment on capture vs. freedom.

Xu Zhen, the CEO of his own company ‘MadeIn’,   has become one of China’s superstars on the international contemporary art scene. This work , 5 m x 3 m in all, is apparently suspended from the ceiling by four enormous ropes tied with the  Japanese bondage knot ‘Kinbaku-bi’, but in reality it is held  by much stronger metal ‘ropes’.

“Play 201301”, has already been seen at Art Basel in Switzerland and at the White Rabbit Gallery in Sydney, which owns the work and which focuses on Asian art from the year 2000 on.

Built over a heavy stainless steel core, it appears to be a series of cathedral shapes covered with the very costly  black S&M equipment which forms part of its artist’s commentary. Folan imagines that in spite of the more serious narrative in the work, it must have been enormous fun to create, adding that it had been an enjoyable challenge to put together the work for Canberra from the artist’s instructions.

Folan applauded the gallery’s move towards looking at more contemporary art practice in Asia and connecting with living artists, noting that just probably about 10 years since the Asian art in the gallery had been shown in a contemporary light.

To this end, as you enter the Asian contemporary galleries downstairs from the  Indian galleries, you’ll be greeted by an exhibition of photographs by performance artist Zhang Huan, some  familiar from the  NGA’s contemporary Chinese show in 2000, “Inside Out: New Chinese Art” and mostly on loan from the  Sherman Galleries in Sydney. It is  part of a new NGA department headed up by Jaklyn Babington to create a focus on global contemporary art practice .

“Play 201301” will be on display in the Asian contemporary galleries, NGA, for several months.