Summer in Sydney just got a little more colourful at the Art Gallery of NSW. Deep beneath the institution, artist Mike Hewson has transformed the underground Tank into a chaotic, colourful playground that blurs the line between art and adventure. Dubbed The Key’s Under the Mat, the new exhibition invites visitors, both young and old, to climb, splash, and explore an immersive world built from salvaged materials. This equal parts artwork, playground, and community experiment is open to everyone and free to explore. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Key’s Under the Mat, Art Gallery of NSW
Once you venture underground, expect a sensory explosion. Visitors will stumble upon everything from a working sauna fitted with church pews, a recording studio free for anyone to use, and even a cluster of public barbecues ready to fire up. And there’s more. Expect water you can splash in, a fully functioning laundry, and a soft-surfaced playground built especially for kids.
Hewson, a New Zealand–born artist now based in Sydney, is known for large-scale public installations and conceptual art that blends play and design. His latest “playground” brings the same offbeat energy indoors, making the installation playful and a little chaotic. Wander, sit, talk, or just watch the fun unfold this summer.
The Key’s Under the Mat is showing now in the Tank at the Art Gallery of NSW and is free to visit. Open to all ages, the exhibition runs through 2025 as part of the gallery’s ongoing contemporary program. Find more information here.