Raya and the Last Dragon arrives in theaters and also on Disney+ with Premiere Access today! Artwork inspired by the movie also arrived at the Downtown Disney District on the corner of what used to be the ESPN Zone building. The artwork was designed by Imagineer Xiao Qing Chen and is now on display for guests to take photos of and with.
Qing was born and raised in Malaysia. This gave her the opportunity to share an authentic cultural perspective in the design of this artwork. She shared with the Disney Parks Blog that the “piece is loosely inspired by the art of Batik, the design of fabric using hot wax, dyes and stamps, commonly used in the Southeast Asian region. The linework in this piece depicts traditional hot wax techniques that isolate areas for vibrant colors. With variations in line weight and touches of imperfections, I hope to evoke the sense of a handmade textile, connecting the characters as a harmonious unit and encouraging us to accept each other’s imperfections.”
If Qing looks familiar to you, it may be that you saw her sketching live during the Spirited Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary Celebration panel. She has been with Walt Disney Imagineering for two years. During this time she has done concept work for the Castle of Magical Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland, graphics for the Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure, and also work for the new Disney Cruise Line ships. Qing is also working on designs for the Fantasy Springs expansion at Tokyo DisneySea along with Journey of Water at EPCOT in Walt Disney World.
Qing studied illustration at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. She also has appeared in the Imagine from Home video series that is currently online with ABC. There are Deluxe prints and Art on Demand of Qing’s artwork now at WonderGround Gallery.
Stop by Downtown Disney District today and take a picture with this beautiful piece of art and then share it on social media with #DisneyRaya!
What do you think of this new piece of art at Downtown Disney District? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
