"The Atlas of Tomorrow" Mural (ASIAN ARCHITECTS / DESIGNERS / ARTISTS OF PHILLY)

This story is part of a series featuring Asian Architects / Designers / Artists of Philly. We will be highlighting incredible murals that are a part of Mural Arts Philadelphia, urban street art that is part of Philadelphia Museum of Art's collection or other collections, urban spaces that embody Asian culture, and buildings designed by some of the most renowned architects from around the world. We will be featuring short blog posts written by members of Urban Design Committee, as well as guest posts by Committee on the Environment, Environmental Justice subcommittee. Stay tuned for more!

Have you ever walked on your neighborhood streets with some question in your mind just wishing somebody gave you an answer to your dilemma? Maybe it would be a great opportunity to stop at the corner of Juniper and South Street and explore the amazing mural “The Atlas of Tomorrow” designed by Candy Chang. The mural invites passersby to interact with art while helping you to consider new perspectives on personal life, work related issues, or emotions. The art is based on the ancient Chinese text, “Book of Change,” or I Ching. As the I Ching, the mural provides practical wisdom that can be applied to various cases in life. As you approach the mural, consider the situation in your life that you are looking for an answer. Spin the six-foot wheel and the pointer will select one of the 64 hexagrams that will give you a story from the past that can serve as guidance or advice to your situation.

Chang believed that art can be used as meditation. Philadelphia community, alongside with the artist made over 200,000 finger painted dots on the piece that later combined to form the mural, The Atlas of Tomorrow.

Candy Chang, the artist became recognizable after her public artwork “Before I die” that was recreated in 75 countries around the world and considered is one of the most acknowledged public artworks. 

Photo by Sofia Brozo

Source:

https://www.muralarts.org/artworks/the-atlas-of-tomorrow/

https://candychang.com/work/the-atlas-of-tomorrow/

https://atlasminor.com/atlas-of-tomorrow/