Tender Comrade

On the weekend the Gay Art Group were treated to a very special guided tour of Tender Comrade at the White Rabbit Gallery, led by Jeremy Smith. The exhibition is a profound exploration of queerness in Chinese culture — both its ancient roots and its contemporary expressions — weaving together stories of intimacy, solidarity, and resilience.

From the outset, Jeremy drew us into a history that is often hidden or overlooked. We learned of emperors who loved men, of friendships and bonds that transcended rigid categories, and of how these legacies echo in today’s queer communities. The exhibition’s title references the reclaimed term TONGZHI (同志), once meaning “comrade” but now embraced as a word of queer identity in Chinese-speaking communities. It’s a reminder that language itself is a battleground, where solidarity and resistance are forged.

The works on display moved between the deeply personal and the boldly political. They offered portraits of intimacy and vulnerability, but also of defiance in the face of suppression. What emerged was a portrait of queer life as both fragile and unbreakable — shaped by history, yet always reaching toward possibility.

For our group, the visit was more than just an encounter with art. It was a reminder of the resilience and creativity that queer communities have always drawn upon, across time and cultures. Walking through the exhibition together, we experienced not only the richness of Chinese queer history but also the power of shared connection — the tender comradeship that sustains us still.