Mural at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago

In June 2022 I created a mural depicting Chinese Opera on the west wall at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago. The composition has three main opera actors. On the left is the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, a monkey born from a stone who obtained supernatural powers through Taoist practices. In the middle is Mu Guiying, a legendary heroine from ancient China's Northern Song Dynasty and a prominent figure in the Generals of the Yang Family legends. On the right is Guan Gong, a Chinese military general who served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

I am well familiar with Chinese opera. My father was a rising star as a composer and band leader for the opera in Hong Kong but lost it all when the family immigrated to the United States. As a child in Hong Kong, I often accompanied my father to rehearsals and live performances. The experience of being around the opera provided great references for the mural.

The Chinese American Museum of Chicago is located in Chinatown, a vibrant neighborhood with the distinctive sounds, colors and character of Chinese culture. It’s filled with small family owned cafes, restaurants and gift shops. Coincidentally the grammar school I went to is across the street from the museum. During the 39 days of working on the mural, I was embedded once again in the neighborhood I love.

From the beginning, I knew this project would be important. I am back in Chicago’s Chinatown, where I grew up. The neighborhood has a familiar way of life that reaches back to my childhood along with memories, good and bad. After all these years, I am still connected to the neighborhood through friendships. Most importantly, I look for support from the locals, to prove that the mural is not only beautiful but also brings positive awareness to our culture. That is my mission.

Two weeks before the deadline, I received a call from NBC Chicago investigative reporter Vi Nguyen, who wanted to run a piece on the mural and its back story. On Wednesday June 15th, we shot the interview and it aired that night on the 5 pm and the 10 pm news broadcasts.

Ribbon cutting with the donors, benefactors and state representative Theresa Mah. This finalized the transferring of the mural to the neighborhood.