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Mural commissions in China
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In 2004, I received commissions to
paint a number of murals in Shanghai, China. The work
covered three venues situated in the old French district of
Shanghai. The first is 'Sasha's' Bar & Restaurant and
conference room which is the former residence of the famous Soong family. The second is
'Zapatas' Mexican Cantina named
after the Mexican revolutionary, Emiliano Zapata and the third
is O'Malley's Irish Pub which reflects life and times of the
famous pirate queen, Grace O'Malley, or 'Grainne Uaile'.
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The above mural is on the second floor restaurant of
'Sasha's'.
It evokes Shanghai's often infamous era of the early 1900's
where east meets west. The mural includes members of the Soong
family, the singular most influential Chinese family in
political and economic life in the 1900's. The entrepreneur and
gangster 'Big Ears' Du Yuesheng and a Russian emigrant and socialite
named Sasha, after whom Sasha's is named, are also included.
The mural is done in sepiatone and features elements of both
eastern and western architecture and culture. |
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| The mural in the poolroom area of 'Sasha's'
Bar reflects the wild and decadent side of 'fin de siecle',
Shanghai.
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The design is influenced by the hand-tinted
posters of the time and also features 'trompe l'oiel' which
suggests an adjacent room off the poolroom.
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The next mural is on the exterior of
'Zapatas'
Mexican Cantina. It depicts the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata (1879 - 1919). The design refers to the 'Wanted'
posters of the era.
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The scale and strong contrast within the
design of this mural meant that low lighting could be
used appropriate to the Cantina theme.
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| This banner advertised the forthcoming
opening of 'Zapatas' while under construction. Painted
with acrylic on canvas, it was later installed in the
open air bar and beer garden area of Zapatas.
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'O'Malley's'
Irish pub has the unique distinction of being the
first Irish pub in China. Live music is played in the bar
while a variety of sporting events are screened in the
beer-garden.
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| This mural is located in the beer-garden
area of 'O'Malley's'. It's aim is to reflect the spirit and exploits of the
Pirate Queen 'Grace O'Malley' off the west coast of
Ireland in the 1600's.
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The border of the mural depicts features
of present-day 'O'Malley's' combined with images of the
life of 'Grainne Uaile'.
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