A new public art installation celebrating AsiaTown's heritage, culture and sense of belonging was unveiled in June on the side of Siam Cafe in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.

Jordan Wong (WONGFACE)Created by Cleveland artist Jordan "Wongface" Wong, "Welcome Home" (歡迎回家) reflects the traditions, values and future of the neighborhood's Asian community.

The installation was commissioned through the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation's Neighborhood Leadership Development program and was celebrated on Friday, June 5 during a public event with food and drinks, artist remarks and an Asian square dancing performance.

The 15-foot-tall, 30-foot-wide piece is composed of multiple panels and took several months to develop—from the initial concept work through fabrication and installation.

"I feel really honored to have the opportunity to create this artwork that really contributes to that welcoming into the neighborhood," Wong says.

Located on St. Clair Avenue in AsiaTown, the installation was designed with its surroundings in mind. Wong says Siam Cafe, which has served the community for more than three decades and is considered a gateway to the neighborhood, inspired elements of the work.

"Siam Cafe is such a landmark for the neighborhood," he observes.

Wong says community engagement sessions held in 2022 helped shape the project and introduced him to the community's desire for its own AsiaTown gateway.

The work’s centerpiece is a traditional Chinese entrance gate inspired by gateways found in other Chinatowns across the country. Wong says the imagery grew out of years of community conversations about cultural identity and neighborhood representation.

"The piece itself is filled with a lot of cultural motifs—many which point towards peace, prosperity, blessings, and this kind of vibrant envisioning of AsiaTown as it is,” he says, “[with] its rich history and also the potential for future growth.”

Jordan Wong’s ‘Welcome Home’ reflects the traditions, values and future of Cleveland’s Asian community. The 15-foot by 30-foot installation on the side of the Siam Café piece is composed of multiple panels.Wong incorporated a variety of symbols intended to reflect both Chinese heritage and everyday life in AsiaTown.

For instance, guardian lions symbolize protection, while bamboo represents resilience, and Little Hero—a recurring character in Wong's work—represents courage.

Images of dumplings and noodle soup acknowledge the importance of food, family and gathering together, while three circles reference San Xing—the traditional Chinese concepts of fortune, prosperity and longevity.

The installation artwork also features several Chinese phrases, chosen by Siam Café owner Michael Hong to reflect the values of the neighborhood and emphasize the importance of love within the home and food as a central part of community life.

Wong selected the phrase "Moving Forward Together" to represent a shared vision for AsiaTown's future.

"Having that culture preserved and flourish throughout the years, I think is really important," Wong says. "I hope that my work contributes to that."

Several details connect the artwork directly to Siam Cafe and AsiaTown. Wong incorporated the fish featured on the restaurant's sign as a tribute to the business and its owners. He said the imagery also reflects perseverance, determination, and building a new life and home.

Wong says these themes naturally informed his approach to the AsiaTown project.

As a Chinese American artist, Wong says he often draws inspiration from the anime, manga and video games that shaped his childhood. His work explores themes of personal growth, the hero's journey, and self-discovery through characters and icons.

Wong has created large-scale public artworks throughout Cleveland and has exhibited work at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, the Massillon Museum and the Akron Art Museum. In 2024, he was one of seven artists selected from more than 100 applicants to receive support through the City of Cleveland’s Transformative Arts Fund, a $3 million initiative supporting public art projects in the city.

"I know I've kind of said it multiple times, but I'm just grateful," Wong says. "I'm just really, really grateful for this opportunity."