Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood recently celebrated the opening of Hoa Mai Park, with a ceremony that saw Mayor Bruce Harrell and artist Kalina Chung unveiling the new public art piece, "Through." Amidst the festivities, which included music, food, and a traditional lion dance, the ribbon-cutting marked a significant addition to the community space on July 27.
The public artwork, standing 24 feet tall and offering a gateway to the park from S. Jackson St., is inspired by the unique architecture of Vietnamese Tube Houses. It was produced as a part of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture's 1% for Art program, which facilitates collaboration between artists and the public to celebrate the diverse communities that make up the city. "The Office of Arts & Culture is honored to have Kalina Chung’s new artwork, Through, added to the Seattle Civic Art Collection," Jason Huff, ARTS Public Art Program Manager, told Artbeat Seattle.
Kalina Chung's approach to art combines diverse sculptural processes and materials, reflecting on themes that delve into the essence of human relationships and our interconnectedness with the natural world. Her latest installation, Through, is not only an eye-catching structure but also an artistic embodiment of home, passage, and memory—resonating deeply with the history and community spirit of Little Saigon and the Coast Salish Peoples’ traditional territories.
"This artwork titled Through speaks to a shared sense of home, air flow, the feeling of a shared breath. This piece is inspired by the site’s history and community; intended to reflect the spatial and temporal passageway created by this park," Chung shared with Artbeat Seattle. Coming from a background deeply rooted in Little Saigon, her piece aims to weave together the narratives of the community, and her family's own story, which is intimately linked to the neighborhood. Chung's meaningful connection to the area is further exemplified by her family's daily patronage of local establishments like Saigon Deli and Lam's Seafood.
The celebration of Hoa Mai Park's opening and Chung's artwork is a testament to Seattle's ongoing commitment to public art and community engagement. The festivities, which included children's activities and performances, highlighted the collaborative spirit that guided the installation's creation through the pandemic, acknowledging the park as a fresh landmark for creating and sharing communal memories.
