In a grand unveiling ceremony on the 15th, a large-scale public art piece in the form of a ground mural was officially revealed on the historic street of Doyers St in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The entire street appeared to transform into a flowing “Yangtze River Dragon,” attracting a large crowd of community members, artists, and tourists to participate in the event.
Created by the Italian artist SMOE, the ground mural features the core imagery of the Yangtze River and dragon culture of China. Through blue water flows, dragon totems, and fluid lines, Doyers St has been transformed into an immersive cultural landscape. The artist expressed the hope that people walking along the street would feel like they are “riding a dragon through the Yangtze River.”
In an interview with the media, artist SMOE revealed his deep interest in Chinese culture despite not being of Chinese descent. He mentioned that his longstanding fascination with Chinese culture, particularly due to his practice of martial arts, led him to develop a strong interest in Chinese philosophy, traditional medicine, and culture. “I have always been fascinated by Chinese culture, so it was natural for me to use ‘water’ and ‘rivers’ as the core of my creation,” he said.
When conceptualizing the piece, SMOE drew parallels and connections between the Yangtze River of China and the Hudson River of New York, seeing the long and winding shape of Doyers St resembling a river itself. “I imagine Doyers St as a river, so I painted water flows and a dragon soaring over the river, hoping to bring good luck to everyone,” he explained.
SMOE pointed out that besides aiming for visual impact, the artwork also seeks to introduce more elements of Chinese culture to New York and American society. “As people walk along the street, it’s like being in the largest river in China – the Yangtze River – and riding a dragon forward. That’s the feeling the artwork aims to convey,” he expressed.
During his speech, Chen Zuozhou, Executive Director of Chinatown BID, the event organizer, mentioned that the ground mural project had been in preparation for several months and received over 30 design proposals. Ultimately, SMOE’s team was selected by merchants, artists, and community representatives to create the artwork.
Chen jokingly referenced a Cantonese saying, “Without the fierce dragon, the river cannot be crossed,” highlighting how the theme of the artwork coincidentally merges the imagery of the “Yangtze” and “dragon.” He revealed that the spot where everyone stands actually has an underground passage below, suggesting that the emerging dragon seems to be coming up from the river.
According to the creative team, the artwork was completed in just three days. However, for a large mural spanning nearly 4,000 to 5,000 square feet on the ground, preliminary planning and coordination work lasted for several months. The organizers also expressed special thanks to the various participating and supporting units that helped make the entire project a success.
The organizers noted that this artwork has officially been included in one of over 2,000 global public mural art networks. Such works can be found in more than 35 countries, including refugee camps, conflict areas, and community public spaces. The Chinatown piece has now become a part of this global network.
Finally, SMOE mentioned that he has never visited China but expressed his desire to have the opportunity to do so in the future. “I hope one day I can really go to China and see it for myself,” he said.