Connected Chinatown in progress

By Zhiyan Wang

Chinatowns share similar cultural aesthetic templates worldwide, such as pagodas, curved eaves, specific patterns, and colorful tiled roofs. Pagoda is well known for building top decorations in Chinatown; however, it was initially for Buddhism burial places and religious worshiping in Eastern Asia. Western architects built Chinatown with a misunderstanding of the cultural meanings behind the aesthetics. Unsurprisingly, Chinatown’s look never changed over a hundred years, and people with Chinese identity backgrounds barely find resonance. 

This parade will invite people with all identities to use augmented reality to create a rich imagination of “Chinatown” in DTLA. The purpose is not only for people with Chinese identity to find resonance but also for people with different identities to break their long-term Chinatown template. By randomly assigning three Chinese style components from Chinatown style, modern China, and imagined future China, people can place and edit the components in a shared space. Creating, communicating, and sharing in a connected area encourages everyone to exchange and reflect their interpretation of Chinese culture.

Share your interpretation of Cultures in this shared space

Communication and connection will help us build better contact with different cultures. Inclusiveness and understanding other ideas will help us make progress. Starting from here, begin to use imagination and empathy to look at the world.