Chen Dongfan Paints Kaleidoscopic Mural on Doyers Street in Chinatown

Chinese artist Chen Dongfan (born 1982, Shanghai) has completed a horizontal, kaleidoscopic mural on Doyers Street in New York's Chinatown, transforming the historic block into a pedestrian zone through November 1. The street, known as Bloody Angle for early 20th-century gang violence, was closed to traffic in collaboration with the Department of Transportation. Chen, who has lived in Williamsburg since 2014, was selected from 11 candidates via a public call. He spent eight days painting after applying four layers of white acrylic, using a cart to move supplies between Bowery and Pell Street. The artist recalled that Doyers Street was one of the first places that struck him when visiting New York before moving. The mural has become a popular selfie destination in downtown. The work is titled "The Song of Dragon and Flowers."