Poster House Artist in Residence Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya: We Are Chinatown
.We Are Chinatown is a dynamic exploration of the resilience, transformation, and enduring spirit of the Chinatown community. Created by artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya during her civic practice residency at Poster House in partnership with Welcome to Chinatown, this portrait series honors four cherished, intergenerational figures from the community: Lucy Yu of Yu and Me Books, Ken Li of KK Discount, Gary Liang of G&J Florist, and Muoi Truong, a beloved fruit vendor on Mulberry Street.
Based on intimate conversations with community members in their homes, restaurants, and shops, these portraits capture the diverse faces and personal histories that form the heart of Chinatown, offering a window into this vibrant neighborhood. Together, they create an image of a place that is continuously evolving while remaining deeply rooted in its rich history and cultural heritage.
More than just individual likenesses, these portraits reflect the shared experiences, aspirations, and challenges that define Chinatown as a living, breathing space—a community that constantly shapes its future while honoring its past.
This public art series is complemented by a gallery exhibition presented by Pearl River Mart (452 Broadway, New York, NY 10013). At the heart of the gallery show is a large, dynamic tapestry—a flowing collage of images, memories, poetry, and threads stretching across the gallery, symbolizing the interconnectedness of Chinatown’s past, present, and future. The tapestry is accompanied by a small assemblage of sculptures, each representing the neighborhood’s textures, objects, and symbols—tangible reminders of the everyday resilience that sustains Chinatown.
The individuals interviewed and/or depicted in the tapestry include:
- Muoi Truong
- Ken Li, Vicky Li, Norina Li, and Nalia Tom of KK Discount
- Lucy Yu of Yu and Me Books
- Albert and Gloria Lam of Albert Lam Bespoke
- Eleanor, Lilian, and Jona Ting of Ting’s Gift Shop
- Kim Yin of Choy Lay Fut New York
- Gary Liang of G&J Florist
- Veronica Gan of Kuih Cafe
- Wai and Jenny Huang of Double Crispy
- Don and Janet Moy of Mee Sum
- Kimberly Ho and Tina Timmy Moy of Potluck Club and Great NY Noodletown
- Cindy and Lisa Jiang of 88 Natural Food on Mulberry Street
- Doris Ling-Cohan
- Steven Wong of Aquabest
- Ming Yi and Ching Yeh Chen of Pearl River Mart
Inspired by her conversations with community members during her residency, Phingbodhipakkiya penned this poem, which is also featured on the tapestry:
A Place Called Chinatown
Stories unfold on streets,
stitched tight with survival.
Every doorway a portal,
every alley a thread,
bearing the weight of its witness.
To fires and whispers,
laughter and loss,
communion and care,
lives mended, remade, reborn.
A place shifting and enduring,
with time’s restless tide.
Yet held steady by hands that remember—
Morning rituals, evening gatherings.
Voices carrying echoes up narrow stairs.
Here, beneath paper lanterns and neon dreams,
we find ourselves in sacred keeping:
The faces that carry untold history,
The hearts that harbor unspoken longing,
The palms that bear unseen sacrifice.
Ten thousand strands of courage
building and rebuilding home through steam and sweat—
Through needles threading silk,
fruit stalls, drum beats, books and blooms,
Laundries where resistance kindled,
Sidewalks where justice found voice
Weathered but standing,
She is a wonderland,
A bridge between memory’s soil and tomorrow’s sun.
一個叫唐人街的地方
故事在街頭上展開，
緊密編織著生存的絡脈。
每個門廊皆是一個港口，
每條巷子如同一根連線，
承載著它們見證的重擔。
火焰與低語的交織，
笑聲與傷逝的共存，
相聚與關懷的相伴，
生活的修復、重塑，新生。
這是一個隨著起伏不定的潮流，
不斷變遷生機不息的地方。
然而記憶的手掌堅定地把握：
清晨的早茶與夜晚的聚會，
聲音在狹窄的樓梯間回盪。
在紙燈籠與霓虹燈下，
我們在神聖的守護中傳承：
那些展露無言歷史的面龐，
那些滿懷無盡渴望的心靈，
那些承受無數磨難的手掌。
千萬條勇敢的絲線，
通過蒸汽與汗水織造，重建家園；
通過穿針引線的絲綢，
水果攤、敲鼓聲、書籍和花卉，
洗衣房中點燃的抗爭，
人行道上崛起的正義，
在風雨洗禮中不屈不撓，
她是一方奇妙的天地，
一座連接記憶之土與明日陽光的橋梁。
Inspired by the symbolism of the Year of the Snake—known for its cyclical shedding of skin to make room for renewal—We Are Chinatown reflects the neighborhood’s ongoing transformation. Like the snake, Chinatown reinvents itself while preserving the essence of its cultural roots. This installation honors the community’s history and celebrates its future, exploring how stories are passed down, how communities rise through adversity, and how resilience is woven into the very fabric of place.
In every thread, every image, every object, We Are Chinatown tells the story of a neighborhood strengthening and renewing its cultural heartbeat. Through this work, Phingbodhipakkiya has crafted a love letter to the collective strength and spirit of those who call Chinatown home—a reminder that the heart of any community lies not just in its buildings, but also in the hands, hearts, and stories of its people.
Additional community resources:
https://www.thinkchinatown.org/
https://welcometochinatown.com/
https://www.wowprojectnyc.org/
https://runforchinatown.org/about
This program is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
