Jul 31, 2024
San Francisco-based artist Chelsea Ryoko Wong (Chinese Japanese American, b. 1986) will unveil a mouthwatering new mural at the Asian Art Museum on August 23. Commissioned by the museum for the Lawrence and Gorretti Lui Hyde Street Art Wall, Community Feast depicts a bustling Chinese dim sum restaurant: a setting familiar to families across the Chinese diaspora and a touchstone for many throughout the Bay Area, no matter their background. Wong’s painting reflects food’s powerful capacity to bring together people of different ages and origins, united by the universally delicious appeal of fresh dim sum.
“Civic Center is an area that encompasses many AAPI communities,” says Wong, “And the theme of dim sum felt particularly appropriate to the Asian American experience as it symbolizes harmony, prosperity, and closeness to family and friends.”
The mural offers us a scene at once recognizable to many pedestrians and drivers passing by on busy Hyde Street and a glimpse into a space others have only imagined. The work invites us into a vibrant dining room presided over by an eye-catching seafood pantheon of crabs, fish, and lobsters, and offers an opportunity for conversation among various neighborhood constituents, from the diverse immigrant families who call the Tenderloin home, to workers making their way to City Hall offices or Market Street’s tech hubs, to art—and dumpling—lovers visiting the Asian Art Museum for the first time.
“Against the backdrop of a pandemic that witnessed a disturbing surge in crimes against the AAPI community — some of which occurred in Civic Center — it is imperative to create artworks that celebrate AAPI culture, advocate for inclusivity, and facilitate dialogue between different cultures,” says Wong. “Now, more than ever, we must strive to bridge the gaps and promote solidarity within our communities.”
About the Artist
Chelsea Ryoko Wong is a painter and muralist. She attended Parsons School of Design, New York and received her BFA in printmaking from California College of the Arts. Wong lives and works in the Mission District and is represented by Jessica Silverman, San Francisco.
About the Lawrence and Gorretti Lui Hyde Street Art Wall
Community Feast is the third commission for the Lawrence and Gorretti Lui Hyde Street Art Wall, a 9 panel, 7-by-40-foot site on the exterior of the Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Pavilion. The Lui Art Wall is a prominent venue to recognize local talent, address the Asian American experience, and raise issues relevant to our neighbors — from immigrant traditions to concepts of sanctuary — through an ongoing series of commissioned works primarily by Bay Area Asian American artists.
About the Asian Art Museum
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art, with more than 20,000 awe-inspiring artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.
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