The mural, entitled Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, is on the side of the Liang You bookstore on East Georgia Street and was graffiti-labeled in late March. This is not the first time the mural has been vandalized, say Katharine Yi and Sean Cao, the artists behind the original piece – but it was the worst to date. “It’s frustrating that something like this would happen again and again,” Yi said. The artists, along with other community supporters, say vandalism is part of a growing problem in the neighborhood, where crime has risen in recent years. In January, the exterior walls of the Classic Chinese Garden Dr. Sun Yat Sen were spray-painted while windows at a nearby Chinese Cultural Center were smashed. The city of Vancouver acknowledged the vandalism in a statement, as well as the “disappointing impact” it had on residents, businesses and visitors. The city also said the rise in incidents may be linked to rising anti-Asian racism in Vancouver.
Folklore became a mural
The artwork is part of a series of murals in the neighborhood commissioned through City’s Chinatown Mural Artist Call in 2019.
It was painted by Yi and Cao – also known as the duo of artists, the Bagua Artist Association – and two other people who helped them complete the mural in two weeks.
The colorful piece is inspired by Chinese folklore about eight immortal beings who use their unique powers to cross the East Sea.
The artists say the tale reflects the diversity of Vancouver’s Chinatown and all the different people who make up and contribute to the neighborhood in their own unique ways.
Volunteers on Saturday used reference images of the original mural to help repaint it, but Yi and Cao say they are open to new perspectives and interpretations.
“We believe that engaging people with the community is as important as the artwork itself,” Cao said.
Part of the mural is depicted here before being deformed. The track was commissioned through City’s Chinatown Mural Artist Call in 2019. (Rachel Topham / City of Vancouver)
Volunteer Terry Hunter says it was important to repaint the mural as a way to bring the community closer together.
“When it is damaged, we all feel hurt, we all feel the pain and being here today to heal the mural is very important,” he said.
Hunter says he has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years and has seen an increase in vandalism in recent years.
He hopes more will be done to preserve and protect the neighborhood’s cultural property by the city of Vancouver and the BC government.
“What we need is a continuous, coordinated effort to change the whole attitude about this neighborhood and what can and cannot be done here.”
The event was also attended by Vancouver City Councilors Sarah Kirby-Jung, Pete Fry and Lisa Dominato. The city is said to have recently raised more funding to help clean up graffiti in Chinatown.
In a statement, the city said Chinatown Transformation Team is working with community members to help revitalize the neighborhood and that staff will present a preliminary report to City Council this spring outlining recommended action to combat it. racism and discrimination against Asia.
