Andrew Hamlin
Northwest Asia Weekly
Cindy Wong’s Starhug mural
Cindy Wong has lived in Seattle almost all his life. She is a graduate, mother, writer, and businesswoman of the University of Washington. The new project she is leading will be seen by anyone passing through the Chinatown International District (C-ID), and hopes to inspire the feelings and thinking of anyone who sees it.
In collaboration with two artists, Vivian Mak and Patrick “Dozfy” Nguyen, Wong planned and executed three new murals at the corner of Maynard Avenue South and South Lane Street, and the Bush Garden Building and its surroundings.
Golden Dragon Mural by Patrick “Dozfy” Nguyen
The part of Dozfy, the Golden Dragon on the Black Wall, was completed on June 25. The part of Mak, inspired by the custom of Chinese lion dance, is scheduled to be completed on July 9. The third part, to be completed on July 23, features a large number of photo reproductions of Shishi Nguyen, from Cindy Wong’s first children’s book “Starhug”, which was published in late August.
When asked about the inspiration for his clips, Dozfy placed great trust in Wong.
“She took the initiative to bring art into the hotel and has a wonderful story. I am honored that she gave me creative freedom and allowed me to recreate a mural that connects traditional Chinese idols with my visual style.”
Mak said she was satisfied with the outcome of the matter, but it took time and several turns to get there.
Happy Lion Mural by Vivian Mak
“Before we arrived, we went through many iterations [her section’s] Current design. It starts from the elements of an ancient Chinese board game, [and] People are dancing on the wall. From there, her design became “a few dancing lions, [then] To the final design that we all think is correct. Quite simple and traditional, with a lion head in the middle and a lion dance behind the text. “
Regarding her artistic development, she meditated: “I don’t know the sense of art, but I always like to read.
When I was a child, I was always in the car, reading at the dining table, waking up on Saturday morning, laying a blanket on the floor, and watching myself with books all day long. Some books can cultivate our imagination, thoughts and souls, while making us laugh and cry. It is natural to want to be a storyteller and create something meaningful to connect with people.
“I didn’t study art, but when I was very young, I had great teachers at Kimball Elementary School. They encouraged kindness, compassion and being part of a diverse community. When you get this kind of support, it creates a desire A positive environment for learning, creating and sharing. I still keep in touch with my second grade teacher, Ms. Christine Hackett, whose insights as a teacher, mother and grandmother have made a huge contribution to “Starhug”.”
When Wong’s company Vibrant Cities established a community network from its headquarters, the new project began. [C-ID]. When the COVID hit, Vigorous City saw the community gather to help each other, and was very touched and wanted to do something.
Local elderly people walking on the street and in the parking lot admitted that the graffiti on the company building made them feel uncomfortable. Some new employees at Vibrant Cities feel the same way.
The company noticed that local artists helped local companies beautify the storefront, and the idea of mural painting evolved from this. The network brought Mak and Dozfy into the project.
When asked about two other local artists, Wong said enthusiastically: “Dozfy is a cool guy. You meet him and immediately like him and his ideas. He is so mature and still has such a big heart. To support and develop the artist community.
“Vivienne is a deep soul. You can talk to her about many different things for hours. I like her enthusiasm and enthusiasm. We are fortunate to let them all represent their work on the mural project.”
Just like the overall installation conceived by Wong, each piece represents a different stage of a nearby era, from the still-existing traditional past to the ever-changing present, and a hopeful future for all in an inclusive and diverse community.
“We want to remind people from all over the world that C-ID has a vibrant future,” Wong concluded. “Everyone has had a difficult year, whether it’s the elderly living in the community or the people visiting the area.
“We would be happy to know that one or all of the artworks will bring a smile to someone’s face or heart, and a sense of security when they walk around this part of C-ID. The happy traditional lion represents courage, We are all connected with the power of Golden Dragon and the pictures of Xinghuo. In short, we are a strong community and will continue to develop.
Andrew can be at info@nwasianweekly.com.
