Recognizing the early and historic contributions of Chinese Canadian women in Vancouvers Chinatown
Interview with Janet Wang at the PCHC office. She is one of the artists and coordinators behind the Suzhou Mural.
Through forgotten labor and cultural persistence, Chinese Canadians have been fundamental to the socioeconomic and cultural renaissance of Vancouver. Their persistent labor, specifically within the Downtown Eastside (familiarly known as Chinatown), is often overlooked and historically dismissed. The Suzhou Alley Mural serves not only as a vibrant homage to the Chinese migrants who first settled in the city, but also powerfully showcases the importance of collaboration in ensuring the prosperity of the Chinese community, which is a message that particularly resonates with newer immigrants. This theme of collaboration is notably evident in the diverse individuals and organizations that united to paint and organize the mural. Its vivid colours and numerous intricate details are individually significant, but collectively, they weave a deeply meaningful narrative. Consequently, the Suzhou Mural brilliantly showcases the socioeconomic, artistic, and cultural contributions as well as the enduring heritage of Chinese Canadians.
Digital rendering of the central aspect of the Suzhou Mural.
Visual artist Janet Wang, recalls how people first started discussing the creation of the mural. According to Janet, the main depictions of Chinese Canadian history in public area displays tends to focus on male figures. “And that’s understandable, most early immigrants from the 1800s onward were men. The women who migrated to this land worked tirelessly to build families, care for their elders, and promote the community while being equally important to its development. Their stories were often invisible.”
The Suzhou Alley Mural’s main purpose was to preserve and showcase overlooked historical Chinese elements, especially those often done by women. The artwork integrates family ties that exist between grandmothers and the following who pass down their cultural heritage along with their strength. The middle section of the mural shows elders playing mahjong and children hiding beneath a tablecloth as adults speak from above. According to Janet Wang, this aspect of the mural is indicative of the dining experience in multigenerational Chinese households. "During conversations with adults, my children used to create their own space under the table because they grew tired of the talk,” said Janet. She also emphasized how she thoroughly enjoyed incorporating humorous aspects to the artwork as it adds some level of childlike wonder.
Revitalization of Chinatown
Interview with Mengya Zhao at the PCHC office. She is one of the artists who worked on the foreground and floral elements of the Suzhou Mural.
The neighbourhood of Chinatown has faced numerous changes over the years. Gentrification, along with demographic changes and economic challenges has caused the neighbourhood to undergo substantial changes. The artists discussed the ongoing conflict that occurs when people want to maintain historical aspects alongside cultural development. “There’s always debate about what Chinatown ‘should be,” Janet said. “Some individuals advocate maintaining the area as it existed in the past. Some want to ‘clean it up.” But culture is more than a physical location, it reflects the complex individuals who reside within the are.
Additionally; Mengya Zhao, a first-generation Chinese immigrant artist, feels an intense personal connection to the artwork. She believes the artwork provides opportunities for current immigrants (often overlooked by society), especially those working in food service or caregiving, which serves as a bridge between cultures. Mengya believes public art plays a vital role in the process of community care. “Even if I’m not here physically, the mural keeps a conversation going,” she said. “The public artwork I created multiple years ago generates ongoing communication with people.” Mengya reflects on the opportunity the mural creates to help stay connected to those it resonated with, for instance, she mentions how her work is still brought up within her social circle today. A public art piece located in Chinatown creates opportunities for people to pause while discovering elements that reflect their personal heritage. The mural functions as a dynamic, loud and "maximalist" installation instead of a traditional historical marker, according to Janet. The artists selected vibrant hues because of their specific intention. The artwork needed to occupy substantial space while expressing boldness. A particular color known as vivid yellow functions as an essential element in the artwork. According to Mengya, traditional Chinese culture reserved yellow as a colour for the imperial court. Historically, women did not have permission to wear the same brilliant shade as men. “In the mural we depict women standing against the bright yellow background which creates an inverted social order between emperors and women.” said Mengya.
Development of the Mural
Original draft of a section of the mural, shared by Janet Wang.
The creation of the mural required seven years to complete. The project started with archival investigations together with dialogues between artists and family members of the depicted women. According to Janet, the younger artists, including herself, lacked some knowledge about this history before starting the project. “We were learning as we worked” she says. The transformation of these stories into visual content proved challenging during the process. Photos were sometimes scarce, and the artists needed to recreate various positions in order to proceed with their work. The project experienced multiple transformations during its development from its original wall-based hand-painted format to digital composition before getting adapted for various display sites. The artistic composition presents important human subjects together with unidentified women who maintained Chinatown and distant background details such as commercial spaces and mountains along with Strathcona School. Red lines serve as artistic elements which correspond to Chinese cultural symbolism. The historical weight of the artwork becomes lighter through the presence of humorous elements throughout the composition. Janet noted that viewers will notice children wearing oversized clothing as well as children looking out from under table legs. “It’s a celebration, not just a memorial.”
Preservation of Identity
Both artists connect their own migration experiences to the artwork. Janet who was born in Vancouver to Filipino-Chinese parents experienced Chinatown visits as a child with her grandmother through shopping for White Rabbit candies and recognizing familiar people in all the shops. She described the neighborhood during that time as “vibrant.” “The pandemic changed it a lot.” The restoration of some previous vitality is her hope. Mengya’s journey is different; She entered Canada through student immigration after her family members had already established themselves in Richmond. The mountainous area where she originated in China stands apart from the main cities located on the eastern coast which most migration accounts emphasize. She expressed that uncovering her cultural heritage requires a backward process “The mural functions as a space which gives visibility to women of color whose work remains unnoticed in society.”
The Suzhou Alley Mural transcends public artwork to become something more profound; it sparks discussions among diverse groups, including both historical and contemporary participants. The educational toolkit accompanying the mural functions as a teaching resource to ensure young people understand Chinese Canadian women as central historical figures of their community. The artists want the mural to motivate people from all backgrounds to narrate their personal histories regardless of their connection to Chinatown. Janet expressed that people of non-Chinese ancestry can view this mural to understand how their communities also possess comparable historical narratives. The artwork serves as an essential warning to conduct inquiries about historical events while opportunities remain available. According to Janet many elderly people refrain from discussing their past experiences. “My parents would have remained silent about their migration history if I had not begun asking them questions about it.” said Janet. People need to document these accounts before they vanish. The round dining table at the center serves as a symbol for community gatherings where people share food while conversations spread in all directions. Children play under the tablecloth. The historical narrative extends from the tablecloth down to the ground. The mural depicts a community that unites different generations while making room for future generations to emerge.
