A new mural, titled ‘This Asian American Life,’ has been unveiled on Hyde Street in San Francisco’s Chinatown. The mural, created by comic artist and community organizer Kayan Cheung-Miaw, invites the public to experience the community through a child’s eye.

The Mural’s Inspiration

Cheung-Miaw’s six-year-old son, Jiakai, was the inspiration behind the mural. She wanted to capture the quiet, mundane moments of life in Chinatown, such as the aroma of a bowl of noodle soup or the feeling of a redwood leaf in one’s hand.

The mural features scenes of everyday life in Chinatown, including a bus driver waving to a passenger and a cook sitting on the curb on break. It also gives a nod to the historic U.S. Supreme Court case of Chinese laundry owner Yick Wo, which established equal protection for noncitizens.

Cheung-Miaw’s Background

Cheung-Miaw was born in Hong Kong and moved to New York with her parents at the age of 10. She grew up in a gritty neighborhood, where she found solace in comics and art. She was particularly inspired by underground comics that called out sexism and patriarchy.

After graduating from college, Cheung-Miaw became involved in organizing and moved to the Bay Area, which she described as the ‘mecca of Asian American movements.’ She worked with the Chinese Progressive Association to organize hotel and restaurant workers in San Francisco.

Cheung-Miaw’s experience as a community organizer is reflected in her mural, which features Chinatown workers and highlights the importance of their contributions to the community.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.