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08/21/2024 11:52 am

Colorful mural on a cement wall featuring an undulating wave figure

"Asian Joy" Mural by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

Asian Joy Mural

Learn more about the project and oral histories

Updated: Aug 21, 2024

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Mural Location About the Artists About SEEK Raleigh

The "Asian Joy" mural, located adjacent to Union Station at the end of West Street in downtown Raleigh, was installed in July 2024 as part of the SEEK Raleigh program. 

Created by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô, this community-driven project celebrates the experiences and joy of Asian Americans in North Carolina. It explores the intersection of Asianness and Southernness, highlighting their impact on the well-being and community of Asian Americans.

Asian American oral histories centered on finding joy were recorded as part of the project. These stories were collected and publicly archived by the UNC Southern Oral History Program.

Follow the  project and listen to the oral histories on isabel-lu.com

Mural Location

The mural can be found adjacent to Raleigh  Union Station at the end of West Street in downtown Raleigh. 

Colorful mural on a cement wall featuring an undulating wave figure

"Asian Joy" Mural by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

Three young Asian American women standing in front of a colorful mural

 Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

Colorful mural on a cement wall featuring an undulating wave figure

"Asian Joy" Mural by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

Colorful mural on a cement wall featuring an undulating wave figure

"Asian Joy" Mural by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

People painting a mural.

Community  work day for the "Asian Joy" Mural by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

A group of people painting a colorful mural on a cement wall featuring an undulating wave figure

Community work day for the "Asian Joy" Mural by Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

Three young Asian American women kneeling in front of a colorful mural

Ina Liu, Isabel Lu, and Sophie Tô.

About the Artists

Ina Liu Headshot

Ina Liu

Ina, PharmD, MS is a public health pharmacist, the 2022-2023 UNC Asian American Center fellow, and co-creator of “Plural of Me,” an art platform that uses music, visual art, and oral histories to tell narratives of Asian American women. Ina’s work has been exhibited at UNC Chapel Hill, VAE, and Artspace.

Find Ina on Instagram: @inaliuart

Isabel Lu Headshot

Isabel Lu

Isabel, MPH, RD is a visual artist and the 2023 Emerging Artist-in-Residence at Artspace. Their work explores ethnic, sexual, and gender identity through food, history, and relationships. Isabel’s work has been shown across the state, including VAE, Durham Arts Guild, and CAM.

Find Isabel on Instagram: @iisabellu

Sophie To Headshot

Sophie Tô

Sophie, MPH is a field scholar with the Southern Oral History Program (SOHP) and a PhD candidate in Health Behavior at UNC. They study how media, arts, and storytelling can support health advocacy. Her PhD dissertation will focus on how Asian American comedians, especially in the South, have experienced and told stories about racialization, identity, and health.

Find Sophie on Instagram: @brophiebbro

About SEEK Raleigh

SEEK Raleigh is an experimental public art program by Raleigh Arts that engages the community through public art in City of Raleigh Parks, greenways, and/or community spaces. The program provides an opportunity for artists to introduce the public to new, unusual, and thought-provoking experiences through temporary public art.

Learn more about SEEK Raleigh projects. 

Learn more and apply to the SEEK Raleigh artist call

Contact

 

Kelly McChesney
Public Art Director
kelly.mcchesney@raleighnc.gov

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