Graffiti with Chinese Characteristics

The "art" before it was covered in graffiti in an angry response

Brick Lane in East London is known for graffiti on the walls, adding an artistic touch to the neighbourhood.

However, some Chinese art students whitewashed a long wall with white paint and then spray painted in red 24 Chinese characters that would easily have been spotted in their homeland: "Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship".

The words are meant to represent the core values of socialism.

The 24 characters sparked fierce criticism

However reaction was swift.

On top of the whitewashed wall was instant feedback on the "art".

There were strong words, like "F*** Communism", "Remember June 4th", "No Freedom in China", "But some are more equal than others", while in between the characters for "patriotism" there's a sticker of the face of Chinese leader Xi Jinping with the words, "No Xi Dictatorship".

These are only a few of the examples.

The "art" or "art stunt" also raised questions as to whether the students should have even painted Chinese slogans in the UK, or did they do this as an act of satire?

Regardless it riled up a lot of people, including many Chinese living there who do not want to return to China and graffitied the graffiti.

Someone took the time to type up a description of the "art work" as one would find in a gallery or museum to give it context.

Sticker reads "No Xi Dictatorship"

It reads in part:

"The twelve Core Socialist Values are a set of official interpretations of Chinese Socialism promoted in China since 2012. Written in 24 Chinese characters, they represent the values of

"prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendship

"The sight of this slogan is ubiquitous in public spaces around China, frequently appearing as giant posters and as stand-alone installations. Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to promote these values in a campaign to the extent that public support for Chinese-style Socialism will be "as ubiquitous as the air".

"In August 2023, a group of free-spirited Chinese artists from London painted these values on a graffiti wall in Brick Lane, East London, deliberately emulating the style that these would have been found in a Chinese setting. In an adamant display of freedom of expression, the characters stand as a silent reminder of the oppression of thought, press freedom and to free speech that is still rampant in China in 2023."

It ends with "#agendasetting".

More Money to Revitalise Vancouver's Chinatown

More provincial funding will help revitalise Chinatown

Vancouver's Chinatown's appearance has dramatically improved since the city last month cleared out all the tents where homeless people lived, and stepped up cleaning the streets more often. 

Back alleys which used to be strewn with trash and human waste are practically clear of garbage, and sidewalks are pretty spotless.

And now the province is chipping in C$2.2 million to fix up the neighbourhood, from storefronts to the Chinese Cultural Centre which have been covered in graffiti and damaged by vandals.

Lee (second left), and Eby, (fourth to left)

The announcement was made by BC Premier David Eby, who says the new funding will help Chinatown "realise the clear plan that this community has to revitalise the neighbourhood for residents, for visitors, and for businesses."

The money is going towards the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation of which Carol Lee is the chair. She said the announcement is a "turning point" for the neighbourhood because it creates a catalyst for sustainable economic revitalisation, signalling to visitors that Chinatown is once again "the place to be."

However, while some business owners in the neighbourhood are grateful for the financial injection, they think more needs to be done in terms of safety, as there are still homeless people occupying their storefronts or making visitors feel uneasy and as a result don't want to stay long.

Cruise ship season has started, but these Chinatown business owners say tourists aren't coming to the area, but to Gastown instead, because they have heard of the safety issue in the news or through word of mouth.

Hopefully people's perception of Chinatown will change soon, and there are also other initiatives to bring more people into the area, like parking meters on the street will charge C$2 an hour starting on June 1.

I visit the neighbourhood once a week and the area is grappling with how it should move forward. There is no question that business owners and residents want to keep Chinatown going, but how? There are issues of gentrification, keeping legacy businesses open, and getting the next generation to come down to Chinatown more often and patronise shops.

Tent encampments are gone, some people remain

But first the issue of safety needs to be tackled and that means finding social housing for the homeless -- if they want it, and helping them get treatment if they want to wean themselves off drugs. It's a complicated set of problems, but when six people die per day from drug overdoses, it's an issue that can't be overlooked. 

Sadly successive governments, municipal, provincial and federal have ignored the problem for decades and now here we are. Hopefully this problem will finally be sorted otherwise Chinatown is going to continue to hang by a thread through no fault of its own.

Feds Inject $1.8M to Beautify Vancouver's Chinatown

When will the crowds return to Chinatown, not just for CNY?

After Vancouver's mayor announced the city will spend CAD$2.1 million to clean up Chinatown, which has deteriorated in recent years with vandalism, graffiti and homeless people as well as drug addicts hanging out in front of businesses, the federal government is pitching in to beautify the neighbourhood.

Today Harjit Saijan, minister responsible for the Pacific economic development agency of Canada pledged CAD$1.8 million to fix up shop fronts with signage and awnings, add planters and flower boxes, install energy-efficient lighting, and modernise buildings such as the Chinese Cultural Centre, The Chinatown Storytelling Centre and Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Gardens.

Lee (left) talks to Saijan at announcement today

About CAD$500,000 of the money will also be plowed into the Light Up Chinatown festival held in September that will bring 50 new jobs. 

Carol Lee, chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, says the federal funding marks a "turning point for the neighbourhood," but notes that though it is a step in the right direction, it is "not the solution."

"There has been a significant increase in graffiti and vandalism, a steep rise in anti-Asian racism, random attacks on our seniors, [and] a rise in property crime, which has made Chinatown a place that people no longer feel safe to come to," Lee said.

She added the financial injection by the federal and municipal governments provide the basis for a "renewed economic vitality,"

The foundation applied for and was granted the funding through the federal government's PacifiCan Tourism Fund, which launched in the summer of 2021 and provides CAD$500 million over two years to help tourism businesses and organisations.

Liu hopes more will be done to help Chinatown

For William Liu of Kam Wai Dim Sum, the help can't come soon enough. "We are struggling and fighting for our lives," he says. 

"I understand the direction they are going, but it's just not enough for us. We really need a lot more support at this point. There are still a lot of people living on the streets that we really need help with."

Joey Wong of Dollar Meat Store, which has been around for over 50 years, echoes in agreement. "We do need a lot more help in say helping the legacy businesses, or even opening up new shops in Chinatown."

While these businesses appreciate the governments' help, they hope it's just the beginning of Chinatown's revival.

Although it's good to get the money to clean up the neighbourhood and beautify it, what about tackling the real issue next door in the Downtown Eastside -- the homeless and drug addiction issue that's spilling over into Chinatown?

Graffiti is one of several issues in Chinatown

Who is going to roll up their sleeves and really fix this problem that has been left to fester for decades with more and more dangerous drugs like opioids?

Until that happens, Chinatown will continue to be subjected to vandalism, crime, graffiti, while faeces, urine and dirty needles are strewn on sidewalks despite the regular cleanups. New planters, signage and awnings are just going to be destroyed over and over again.

Vancouver Moves Forward on Chinatown Action Plan

Chinatown tries hard to fight back against graffiti to no avail

When Ken Sim was overwhelmingly voted as Mayor of Vancouver, one of his campaign promises was to fix up the situation in Chinatown. 

The neighbourhood is in a sad state, with homeless people and drug addicts sprawled on sidewalks, and numerous cases of petty theft, vandalism and graffiti. It's not just visually unappealing but also the putrid smells of garbage littered everywhere along with feces and urine.

Today Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the "Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan" which is an extensive list of things that will be done to literally clean up the area.

Mayor Sim promises action to clean up the area

"Chinatown is an invaluable part of our city -- a much beloved community that celebrates Vancouver's diversity and cultural heritage," says Sim. 

"Chinatown holds an important place in the hearts of many. Today, with the passage of the Uplifting Chinatown Plan, we are excited to be taking the next step towards the revitalisation and renewal of this vital part of our city," Sim is quoted as saying in the press release.

It does not mention a price tag, but the media reports it could cost around CAD$2.1 million.

The long list of actions are pretty impressive, made to look like a marked improvement from the previous municipal administration.

Initiatives include a "safewalk program" for seniors and residents in Chinatown to get home safely; 24/7 access to a public washroom at Main and Hastings streets; 15 new larger-capacity public waste bins; continuation of CAD$500,000 in graffiti prevention and abatement grants to business improvement associations; additional funding for free paint and graffiti removal on upper facades and heritage buildings; and funding for the Chinese Community Policing Centre.

What about tackling the issue on Hastings Street?

There's also the "proactive feces collection" five days a week -- what does "proactive" mean? The press release points out it was only once a week before -- but why not seven? Do people not defecate the other two days?

While we really appreciate all these actions, they are just keeping Chinatown much cleaner. What about tackling the actual problem of drugs and homelessness a block away on Hastings Street? What is the action plan there? 

Business owners say the report break-ins and vandalism to the police, but they say the officers don't do much about it. 

If nothing is done to really deal with these problems, then the "Uplifting Chinatown Plan" will be a Sisyphean task.