As a small business owner, I’m always grateful for any type of media exposure. Last week, I had the opportunity to be interviewed on Global News for my work with the Vancouver Police Foundation’s Muralize project. As a first-generation Chinese Canadian, it was a real honour to contribute to Vancouver’s Chinatown community with my art. My piece, titled Go North, is a celebration of Chinatown’s energy, community, and culture.
Here’s the full news segment on Global:
https://globalnews.ca/video/11345342/project-muralize-revitalizes-chinatown
My artist statement for this piece:
This piece celebrates the vibrant energy of Chinatown by introducing a hybrid creature that combines East Van’s iconic crow with my personal affinity for rabbits. The creature joyfully skateboards up Main Street, heading north toward the mountains.
Hidden in the artwork are red Chinese lucky envelopes. Three are marked with the characters for 5, 3, and 6, referencing the store’s address. Below them are three more envelopes, each showing the number 8, a symbol of prosperity. The string of eights is a quiet tribute to my late father’s license plate when we lived in Toronto.
The piece represents joy, freedom, and abundance. If you look closely, you’ll also spot a lucky white rabbit peeking out in curiosity, offering a subtle nod to good fortune.