The world’s most famous terracotta army has arrived in Perth
Often teased as the world’s most isolated major city, Perth has found creative ways to overcome what Australians call the “tyranny of distance”: its vast separation from other big cities and cultural centres. The result is a self-sustaining arts scene.
In the Perth Cultural Centre at Northbridge, the WA Museum Boola Bardip is one of Western Australia’s key cultural landmarks. Boola Bardip means “many stories” in the language of the Whadjuk Noongar people, the traditional custodians of Boorloo (Noongar name for Perth).
True to its name, WA Museum Boola Bardip has housed bold exhibitions exploring diverse, ancient cultures. In an Australian first, the museum presents “Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor”, an immersive experience tracing the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, running until 22 February 2026.
The world has been enthralled by the terracotta army since its discovery by farmers near Xi’an, Shaanxi Province in 1974. Over 8,000 life-sized soldiers and horses, spread across over 51km2, lay buried for 2,000 years – a demonstration of the emperor’s power in life and protection in death.
The warriors are just one part of the 225 artefacts on display, some shown for the first time and nearly half never exhibited outside China. In collaboration with the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre and Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, the exhibition uses projections and interactive elements to bring history to life.
While exploring the museum’s collections, look out for Illuminate, a permanent digital display projected onto the Old Gaol, a heritage-listed building within the complex. This multisensory kaleidoscope of light draws inspiration from the museum’s exhibits and the state’s natural beauty.
More cultural must-sees in Perth
Art Gallery of WA (AGWA)
AGWA’s Brutalist building is a landmark housing Western Australian and First Nations art. Its rooftop features Targets (2021), a large-scale work of light and paint by Christopher Pease.
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
For over three decades, PICA has been a hub for creativity, hosting music, dance, experimental theatre and live art. Located near Boola Bardip and AGWA, it proves Perth’s cultural scene is anything but barren. pica.org.au
