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@TheSongofDragonandFlowers

NEW YORK - Please join us for the opening reception of The Song of Dragon and Flowers, a large-scale public art project at New York Chinatown. Artist Chen Dongfan will be present and share his experiences of creating the work. From July 13th to 20th, Chen spent 8 days to implement an asphalt mural directly on the 4800 square foot Doyers Street, with the assistance from the New York City Department of Transportation's Art Program and Public Space Unit, Chinatown Partnership, FouGallery, and ArtBridge.

To highlight the historical significance of Doyers Street in the history of immigration of the Asian American community, Chen Dongfan created The Song of Dragon and Flowers. The artist chooses to capture the soul and spirit of the dragon, as a visual embodiment of the area and the lasting Chinese cultural heritage. The flowers are a symbol of peace in response to the rich history of Chinatown. Together they compose a song with exuberant and dynamic rhythm. 

The project is part of New York City Department of Transportation's Seasonal Streets program. Seasonal Streets temporarily transform streets into vibrant public space during warm weather when people use them the most. In addition to movable furniture, umbrellas, and other amenities, the Doyers Street Seasonal Street also features a temporary public art installation presented through the NYCDOT Art Program’s Arterventions program track. The Song of Dragon and Flowers by Chen Dongfan was selected from the Open Call because of its outstanding visual presentation and the meaningful connection with the historical significance of Doyers Street and the history of Asian American immigration to the United States of America. 

About the NYC DOT Art Program Launched in 2008, the New York City Department of Transportation’s Art Program invigorates the City’s streetscapes with engaging temporary art installations. The program partners with community-based organizations and artists to present murals, sculptures, projections and performances on plazas, fences, barriers, bridges, step streets and sidewalks for up to 11 months. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dotart.

"Chinatown's history is full of hardship, but also full of love. Doyers Street is located in Chinatown, intersecting with Pell Street at its very end, as if a flying dragon is winding its way up and resting at the intersection of two streets. I was inspired by the immigrant experience and how they perceive this neighborhood as home. Thus, I believe that dragon, both from its visual form and the cultural meaning, can best represent the area. Instead of depicting the form of the dragon on the street, I choose to capture the soul and spirit of this mythical animal, as a visual embodiment of the lasting Chinese cultural heritage.

Tagore said, “Let life be beautiful like summer flowers." The symbol of flowers implies two meanings in this mural: First, to honor the suffragette Mabel Lee and to praise those who advocate for women's rights. Second, the flower is a symbol of peace. After witnessing the violent history of Chinatown, Doyers Street becomes its own epic and legend.

The song refers to the style and art-making process of my space painting. Different from other graffiti street art, my works often form a close relationship with space, for I believe that space tells its own story. When I paint, I first immerse myself in the space, waiting for the very moment, and let my paintbrush guide me through my improvisational action painting. Through the explosion and abstract lines and vivid colors, I want to bring the oriental charm into my work and compose a song with exuberant and dynamic rhythm.

I'm honored to contribute to the community of my own ethnic group and use my brush to tell the story of the past, the current, and the future of Chinatown." --Chen Dongfan

否画廊荣幸地邀请您参加《龙与花之歌》的开幕活动，与艺术家陈栋帆一起庆祝公共艺术项目的顺利实施。2018年7月13日至20日，陈栋帆用八天的时间，在纽约市交通管理局，华埠共同发展机构，ArtBridge和否画廊的协助下，一个人在宰也街街面创作了了61米长的壁画。

为纪念宰也街在亚裔社区移民历史中的重要意义，陈栋帆创作了巨幅空间壁画《龙与花之歌》。受蜿蜒的街道启发，艺术家保留了龙的气韵和精神，街头巷尾气脉通达。花象征着和平，通过艺术转化宰也街。通过行动绘画的即兴现场创作，抽象写意的笔触和风格，艺术家用画笔谱写了一首如波普般鲜艳而又具有东方韵味的歌。

本项目是纽约市交通管理局夏日漫游季的一部分。在天气转暖之际，人们最常出游和使用街道，而夏日漫游季则将行人漫游的街道变成充满活力的公共空间。除了可移动的家具，遮阳伞和其他可供行人休憩的设施外，夏日漫游季还包括一项临时公共艺术装置。作为纽约市交通管理局艺术项目Arterventions公共艺术计划的一部分，向公众公开征集艺术作品。陈栋帆在否画廊和ArtBridge协助下提交的《龙与花之歌》提案因为高质量的视觉和概念呈现，在公开征集阶段被选中，于7月顺利实施。

“这条街坐落在唐人街，街头巷尾蜿蜒曲折，无论是文化背景还是形态上，龙是最合适的意象。但是，我只留龙的气韵和精神，街头巷尾，气脉通达，顺畅亨通。

生如夏花，花在这里有两层寓意。一是纪念李美步，对女性的赞美。二是象征和平，宰也街的历史与传奇。歌，是指我的创作方式和风格：行动绘画的即兴现场创作，抽象写意的笔触和风格，如波普鲜艳又具有东方韵味的色彩，如歌舞跳跃的节奏。

我的创作与空间有着很密切的关系，空间诉说着故事，此时此地的感受很重要，这与涂鸦作品有些不同，在创作时有很多即兴创作的部分，因地制宜，所以这是大型的空间绘画作品。我很高兴能够实现这个公共艺术项目，能够为自己的族群做一点事，也将是我的骄傲和荣耀。” --陈栋帆

Special Thanks: Liquitex, Inna Art Space, Cloud Printing

Events

2018.7.26 2—3 pm
Press Conference

2018.7.28 6—8pm
Opening Reception

News and Reviews

Starin, Dawn. “For Mabel Lee, A Pioneer For Suffrage, Some Recognition At Last.” Prospect Magazine, 2019.11.5 .

Costigan, Johanna，“否画廊：生活和艺术互为补充”，Neocha，2019.10.21.

Costigan, Johanna. “Fou Gallery.” Neocha, 2019.10.21.

"He’s Painting the Streets Red. And Yellow. And Blue." The New York Times, 2018.7.27

“华埠宰也街大型涂鸦作品吸引新游客”， 侨报，2018.7.02

 “Art-Driven Pedestrian Plaza to Seal Doyers Street Next Month.” Bowery Boogie, 2018.7.16

"Photos: Historic Doyers Street Is Getting A Giant Mural Painted Over It," Gothamist,  2018.7.18

“Chen Dongfan: The Song of Dragon and Flowers on Doyers Street  in Chinatown.” Gothamtogo, 2018.7.19

“An entire Chinatown street is being painted into a mural of a dragon.”  Time Out, 2018.7.19

“Historic street in NYC's Chinatown painted into giant mural of dragon.” China New TV. 2018.7. 22

“Feature: Grand street painting gives Manhattan's Chinatown high-fashion makeover.” Xinhua News Agency, 2018.7.22

“宰也街路面長畫完工 曾遭到破壞反添靈感”，世界日报，2018.7.22

“Chinatown Street with Bloody Past Now a Bright Piece of Art.” NBC, 2018.7.23

“The Song of Dragon and Flowers,” Sinovision English Channel, 2018.7.26

"公共艺术项目'龙与花之歌’华埠宰也街开幕”，侨报，2018.7.27

“纽约华埠”血腥之角”全面美化遭抱怨？ 记者调查结果大相径庭”，美国中文网，2018.7.17

“Famous New York Chinatown street known for violent past gets a makeover,” CGTN America, 2018.7.28

“Artist Helps Transform Chinatown’s Doyers Street With Abstract Dragon Painting,”  CBS, 2018.07.17

"How—and Why—the Artist Chen Dongfan Transformed Chinatown’s Doyers Street Into a Flowery, Friendly Dragon," Artnet, 2018.08.09

“Eine neue bunte Touristenattraktion in der Stadt, die niemals schläft.” Stern, 2018.07.31

Chinatown invade de arte colorido avenidas de Nueva York.” Chispa, 2018.07.31

“Eine neue bunte Touristenattraktion in der Stadt, die niemals schläft.” Easy Voyage, 2018.07.31

“New York's Chinatown and the tale of the Chinese in America.” Prodcast, China-US Focus, 2018.08.01

“Painting history, emotion onto a legendary street.” China Daily, 2018.09.07