Chinatown My Chinatown

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This newspaper is a celebration of
the success of the Shanghai Expo and
represents a coming together of artists
and researchers to offer their personal
responses to the oldest Chinese
Community in Europe.

Chinatown My Chinatown was edited,

designed and published in Liverpool
by Moira Kenny, John Campbell,
Jon Barraclough and Mike Carney.

Space is what we need,

Chinese New Year,
room to breathe, call your own... Liverpool 2011.
Over a restaurant table somewhere
in Liverpool 1 Ms Kenny and Mr.
Campbell talked of the space they
occupied, the architecture, the
ambient sound, the conversations,
recalling memories of the Mills
brothers on a juke box way back
in time, Chinatown my Chinatown
in 2/4 time. Time shifts and
thoughts drift towards the streets
and mapping a journey through
the moments and snapshots
of Chinatown.

Sometime later they meet and

retrace each other’s steps. Each
took a different route crossing
broad themes of community,
neighbourhoods, of gentrification
and desolation, seeking out the
penny tray leftovers and the
in-betweens. Interested in exploring
every perspective, mapping out
a future as The Sound Agents an
invitation is extended to artists
and researchers to contribute
an impression of Chinatown.

This publication contains reflections

and observations of memories,
dreams lost and found.
Dr Robert MacDonald Norman Killon
Chinasquare 1960ish. (2011) Four Eyed Gink outside the Chippie. (2011)
210 x 297mm. Blue pencil, black ink pen on lined writing pad. Note pad & Family Photo’s. Collage: The Sound Agents.
Philip Lo Richard Creed
Detached Identity – TMC. (2011) Ghost Story. (2008)
420 x 297mm. Ink on cartridge with digital manipulation. 1500 x 1200mm. Oil on canvas.
Jon Barraclough Mike O’Shaughnessy
Travel Bug. (2011) The Importance of Study. (2011)
250 x 200mm. Pencil and crayon in sketchbook. 160 x 110mm. Pen / brush / Pentel & ink.
Quotation from L1 Oral History project. (2005) Mike Carney
Take It Away. (2008 to present)
Digital photographs.

“My father came to England in 1908. He was

working in the laundry. In 1943 when the Japanese
came to our village only about four or five Japanese
soldiers came so we used a gong. We live in a big
house with my mother and my four brothers.
One time I was about eight years old I carried my
brother who was about two to the mountain.
My cousin bought me over at the end of the war.
I had two years education. When I was sixteen I
left school. I did not have a good education at all.
I had to send money to my mother and my brother.”

“There was a hostel run by a family called Hebrum one

of the first woman judges. I remember seeing people
huddled up. They were very poor. They had their hair
covered up as you see them now. All Eastern people
on their way to America, I was broken-hearted. The
conditions they were living in in the 1920’s. We were
a little bit afraid of them but I know now that the smell
was spices.”
John J. Campbell Alexandra Wolkowicz
Nelson Street Blues. (2011) Untitled. (2011)
297 x 210mm. Graphite and ink.
Will Sergeant Jagjit Chuhan
Miracles are Possible. (2011) Chinese Red. (2011)
841 x 594mm. Silkscreen. Digital image for print or projection.
John Young Alun Roberts
House arrest (for Ai Weiwei). (2011) Happy New Year. (2011)
Collage. 350 x 263mm. Digital.
Moira Kenny Quotations from L1 Oral History project. (2005)
WIP (Work in Progress). (2005 to present)
Audio, graphite, paint.

“Chinatown sometimes seems stuck in the 70s”

“I’m ashamed of Chinatown it’s only half a street”

“Everyone considers this district as Chinatown

and it really grates me; it’s L1.”

“Come off it you want to stop moaning. All the

changes in Liverpool One you’ve never had it so
good, it’s safe to walk around here of a night and
your house is lovely.”

“It’s that bad here they even hang the ducks! If

you had been born years ago the old Chinatown
was the best it used to have on the window of
the curio shop ‘We do not buy Japenese goods’
isn’t it? Do you remember that? Oh aye yeah we
had some good times.”

In L1 there were a number of court

yard houses, a free standing water
pipe in the middle that everybody
shared and the toilets were
somewhere in that ring. The houses
went around it double storey so they
were very high density. Eventually
they became the breeding ground “The Wah Sing started formerly in 1965 on the first
of cholera. Before that there were
also back to back houses like
floor of the Tai Wah Restaurant opposite the ABC
Dukes Terrace, that was two Cinema In Lime Street. I started the first Chinese class
houses back to back with no cross
ventilation vented on one side with on a table tennis table when all of the Liverpool Chip
no window. They gradually refined Shops were closed for members to learn the thoughts
them. The Bye Law Terraces
designed on the bye-laws of of Chairman Mao. Later on members suggested to
Liverpool Authority was the first teach the children. People donated one child each to
in the country to design them the
idea was to get cross ventilation and be taught Chinese. We would pick them up and take
to get light in. Kitty Wilkinson, them home afterwards. We started with eight children
Agnes Jones, Eleanor Rathbone,
Florence Nightingale formidable we now have over two hundred and sixty! We are
women, making huge waves when dedicated to educating the children.”
a womans place was in the home
bringing up the kids. Kitty came
from Ireland and was taking in
washing establishing the second
phase of public health movement
from the 1840’s.
About the contributors

Mike O’Shaughnessy
There is a small Drawing in
the British Museum.
Hendrickje Stoffels by
Rembrandt van Rijn.
The painted marks are spare,
exacting and very beautiful.
A quintessentially European
drawing, the calligraphic brush
strokes appear oriental in
influence and origin.
Part Chinese and part western.
This drawing is my own
observation.
From Hong Kong to Liverpool.
The importance of study.
Jon Barraclough Richard Creed Norman ‘The Cat’ Killon Will Sergeant
My piece is a drawing of a plastic “The theme of my paintings is Cockney by Birth Senior Lecturer in Graphic Arts / Will Sergeant is best known for his
ant with CHINA debossed on its ‘paradise lost’ where the material Scouser by Choice Illustration at Liverpool School of work as songwriter and guitarist
abdomen. This is my first sense of world evaporates into a physical Step Father Chang Pu Tsai Art & Design / LJMU. Illustration with Echo & The Bunnymen with
China from being a short-sighted or psychological disaster. Ideas DJ since 1963 clients have included Vogue whom he has recorded and
child – a word on a plastic, mass of loss and alienation encompass Eric’s since 1970’s Magazine, Penguin Books, Sony, performed world-wide for thirty
produced toy that’s travelled half references to iconic figures such Contributor to the myth of Probe The Royal Mail and V2 for Elbow. years. He also has long-term ties
way around the world to be in as the astronaut and Big-foot.” Walker Art Gallery 17 years with the experimental side of life
my hand. [email protected] in the fields of performance,
Creed’s paintings have been [email protected] recording and the visual arts.
I was born in Yorkshire in the 1950s shown at venues including the He has produced solo and
but now live and work in Liverpool. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool in the Alun Roberts collaborative works since
I studied Fine Art Media at Bradford John Moores Painting Exhibition; Philip Lo Alun Roberts was born in Liverpool the 1980s.
and Graphic Design at Newcastle Cornerhouse, Manchester; My first encounter of Chinatown in in 1983, and studied Fine Art at the
before working as a photographer Pitshanger Manor Gallery, London; Liverpool was a palpable awakening Cardiff School of Art and Design. www.willsergeant.com
in New York and London in the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry; The of my familial roots and in particular He then moved to Bristol, before
1980s. Since moving to Liverpool Lowry, Salford; North-West House, my close relationship with my coming full circle and returning to
I’ve done some teaching and Brussels, Belgium; Orebro Castle, grandparents. Liverpool. He is a founding Alexandra Wolkowicz
worked in various guises as a Mike Carney Sweden; Shanghai University, member of the MassEye Art It is believed that the ritual burning
graphic designer/artist. Currently ‘Take It Away’ is an ongoing China and Teo Wetterling Gallery, The dialect and the raw character Collective, which has exhibited of spirit money transforms it into
I’m based at Elevator Studios as documentation of mysterious, Singapore. His paintings are in of Liverpool’s Chinatown awakened throughout the UK at private venues real currency in the other world.
Jon Barraclough and Company abandoned, half eaten chippy collections including the University in me, my childhood memories of and various festivals. He is also a
and share my space with lovely, dinners. In the context of this of Liverpool Art Collection. the times spent with my grandfather member of Osun Arts and the Solar Alexandra Wolkowicz is a Polish /
inspiring people. publication it is not intended as who will always remain an inspiration Arts Project, both of which are German photographer and artist
a derogatory statement aimed at [email protected] in my life. based in Liverpool. currently resident in Liverpool UK.
www.jonbarraclough.co.uk the Chinese community, it is an Her work explores themes about
observation of the wastefulness Like Liverpool, he too, was detached [email protected] our relationship with the world and
and arrogance of the West. Michael Head from the motherland but through how we share it with each other
John J. Campbell Michael Head is a musician. He his sheer spiritual perseverance and other living things. Essentially
John J. Campbell is an artist, Mike Carney is a Liverpool based is most famous as the lead singer against all odds, he illuminated a tactile and documentary, her
musician and co-founder of designer and artist. He is a studio and songwriter for Shack and the path for all of us... work springs from her experience
The Sound Agents whose work member of The Royal Standard Pale Fountains. The New Musical with photography, performance,
encompasses electronic artist collective and curates and Express has described him as [email protected] theatre and the creation of unique
soundworks, installation and publishes Drawing Paper with ‘a lost genius and among the representations of places, things
group performance. He has Jon Barraclough. most gifted British songwriters and histories.
published work nationally and of his generation’. Dr Robert MacDonald
internationally under his own www.mikesstudio.co.uk Doctor Robert was born in Liverpool www.wolkowicz.com
www.drawing-paper.tumblr.com
name and various group names www.shacknet.co.uk in 1951. His father was a Liverpool
for over thirty years including Prize fighter and his mother worked
his group Its Immaterial and in Jacobs the cracker factory. John Young
the French act La Fiancée. Jagjit Chuhan Moira Kenny Robert went on to become an “The guilty pleasures of idealised
‘My paintings focus on the human Artist / PhD Researcher. architect with a double first class Maoist propaganda collide with
[email protected]
form in isolation and retaining a Thesis Title: ‘Chinese Whispers: honours at The Liverpool School gestures of artistic solidarity – this
sense of privacy, suggesting strength An Audio Visual History of the of Architecture. is my Chinatown.”
and fragility, pleasure and pain. Chinese Elders in Liverpool’.
The digital works use the allure of Co-founder: The Sound Agents. [email protected] John Young works across several
colour and imagery to explore a Work encompasses Art Direction, disciplines particularly Graphic
sense of identity; they are designed Film, Audio, Oral History, Drawing. Design, and the sonic and visual
to be projected or printed up to arts. His projects have taken him to
bill-board size.’ [email protected] Tokyo, Barcelona and Long Island.
He currently is the pathway leader
Chuhan’s paintings have been www.internationalchinesesoundagency.
blogspot.com for the Visual Communications
exhibited in Europe, Asia and UK pathway of the Graphic Arts
venues including Tate Liverpool; www.ming-ai.org.uk/ course at Liverpool School of
Barbican Centre, London; Arnolfini, chineseworkforce Art and Design.
Bristol and Ikon, Birmingham. Solo
exhibition venues include Horizon Art & Design Academy
Gallery, London; The Lowry, Salford Duckinfield Street
and Watermans Arts Centre, London. Off Brownlow Hill
Her paintings are in collections Liverpool
L3 5YD
including the Arts Council Collection.
T. 0151 904 1216
[email protected]
Michael Head
Chinatown. (2011)

What does Chinatown mean to you? Thanks to everyone who has

contributed to this publication
in all their varying ways.
My earliest memories of Chinatown would have to be What memories do you have? Bill Harpe, Black-E.
Dr Angie Thew.
when I was about six. My dad and his mates coming It may be a fleeting journey past the arch The Sound Agents is an artist led Martin Downie, Director, Thankyou to everyone who took This project is financially supported
back to the house on a Saturday night. “Where’ve you on the way into town, architectural interest, it not for profit arts organisation Art & Design Academy, LJMU. part in the L1 Oral History project by the City of Liverpool to celebrate
founded by Mr John J Campbell All of the pupils at Wah Sing in 2005. the success of the Shanghai Expo.
been?” I’d say and a chorus of drunken verse would may mean nothing to you, in that case why and Ms Moira Kenny in 2010. Chinese School, Duke Street
shout back in unison “Chinatown”. Wow, I’d think, is that? You may have strong links through Working with the Chinese for the rabbit drawings. Quotes taken from audio recordings
community, L1 residents and Master C. K. Cheung for the of Michael Swerdlow, Lilly Clarke,
evoking magical thoughts of this place that sounded family or friends. business sector to highlight and calligraphy titles. Maureen, Patsy and Nancy, George
thousands of miles away. encourage international research, and Johnny, and other members of
collaborations and development Wah Sing Chinese School the community.
Please get in touch and share your within Chinatowns in London, Paris, www.liverpoolwahsing.org
A few years later I went for my first meal with my dad and thoughts and experiences. New York and San Francisco. Public Realm / Health quotes taken Design: Mike Carney and Jon Barraclough.
from interviews with Professor
his mate and my brother John. “Where are we goin’ ?” The Sound Work in The Black-E John Ashton, the North West All artworks copyright © The Artists.
Published in February 2011.
Dome was recorded, developed Regional Director of Public Health
I asked, “Chinatown”, still sang in unison. Wow, I thought, [email protected] and produced by Mr Campbell and Regional Medical Officer and www.mikesstudio.co.uk
at last. We went to a restaurant about two down from and Ms Kenny using archived Dr Robert MacDonald www.jonbarraclough.co.uk
audio material of residents of
the Mabo, but the excitement soon turned to horror. Chinatown and present day Black and White Drawings based
My dad and his mate, two aging teddyboys feeding the recordings, ambient sound of on original photographs sourced
shipping, Chinatown sounds from the local Chinese Community
exotic fish in the tank next to us bits of their banquet and morse code. Sedan Chair Reference source, copyright
for two, me and my brother open mouthed, not knowing and Unicorn on loan from unknown: courtesy of National
Mr Colin Wan, Founder of the Museums Liverpool (Merseyside
whether to laugh or grass them up. A memorable meal UK Chinese Unicorn Academy. Maritime Museum)
to say the least. www. Paintings include participants,
internationalchinesesoundagency Nancy and Patsy, George and
.blogspot.com
Years later I had the pleasure and privilege to meet Bert Johnny, Maureen, Jimi and an
unknown friend, June and George.
Hardy, the famous war photographer who worked for RIP Johnny and Nancy.
Picture Post in the 40’s and 50’s. He was working on a Seel Street / Slater Street
project for the magazine about inner cities and came to Photographic Image Designed by
Moira Kenny Funded by Liverpool
Chinatown. His photographs of the area are legendary. Culture Company, supported by
He told me for some reason the locals took to him being Frenson. 2007.
an Eastend cockney and having a down to earth
personality, he was allowed access into the mythical
opium dens, brothels and gambling sessions and took
some amazing shots. My daughter Alice went to school
in Chinatown, so dropping her off or picking her up, I got
to know the area quite well. Being an inquisitive little so
and so as me Ma used to call me, I got books on the area
to see what it was like a hundred years ago.

With the stories pictures and tales in the books I wasn’t

far off as a six year old growing up thousands of miles
away in Everton imagining this magical romantic almost
mythical place called Chinatown.

Anyway, I could have written about the history of the

place like when it was formed or the famous people
who have visited, but you can go on line for that.

Love Mick. Photograph: Jon Barraclough

Model: Alexandra Wolkowicz