800 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Garden Dream 桃源

This mural is inspired by the DC's Chinatown and the location of the mural - the East Chinese Garden. I chose Classical Gardens of Suzhou, an outstanding representative of traditional Chinese garden art, as the main subject of the mural. The moon gate of the garden is a passage connecting the history and present of Chinatown. In the background, there are some buildings and businesses that once existed on H Street in Chinatown. The color skeme of the whole mural has a sense of history and nostalgia.

The small decoration right above the moon gate is a floral element. Surrounding the Moon Gate are plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, which are called "Four Gentlemen". They are a group of four plants that are often depicted in Chinese art and are considered to symbolize traditional Chinese virtues. Pine trees represent longevity. Swallow is a symbol of migration. All of these bless a bright future for Chinatown. The entire mural has multiple layers of space, and the flowers extending into the passage in the lower right corner act as a bridge to connect the spaces, making the mural and the building integrated.