Eight new street banners were recently installed in the Chinatown neighbourhood in Winnipeg. Inspired by the Dynasty Building’s public garden, they aim to celebrate the Lunar New Year, share overlooked human experiences, and honour community teachings. Images courtesy Winnipeg Arts Council
Eight new street banners were recently installed in the Chinatown neighbourhood in Winnipeg. Inspired by the Dynasty Building’s public garden, they celebrate the Lunar New Year, share overlooked human experiences, and honour community teachings.
Through their artwork, Natalie Mark (麥月明) sought to create a visual “garden,” based on the space where all walks of life meet. The project is a collaborative initiative of the Winnipeg Arts Council and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, who asked artists to design thought-provoking work to reflect the evolving culture and characteristics of Chinatown, as well as draw people in and encourage exploration and interaction within the neighbourhood and its communities.
The banners combine seven of the eight Buddhist treasures with the Seven Teachings in Indigenous culture. Through their artwork, Mark highlights the similarities between the two, as symbols and qualities of compassion towards one another.
The paired images include:
- The conch shell: Honesty
- The victory banner: Humility
- The parasol: Courage
- The lotus flower: Truth
- The treasure vase: Wisdom
- The pair of fish: Respect
- The endless knot: Love
The eighth banner is a representation of community, through the sharing of food, such as dim sum or the family-style dishes seen in Chinese and Chinese Canadian cuisine.
“I hope visitors, residents, and workers alike enjoy the new banners,” says Mark. “The goal is to celebrate the whole Chinatown community to create a complete picture of the neighbourhood. You are invited to explore the area, to smile at your neighbours, and to see Chinatown with new eyes.”
