“Dance of the New Year” by Yumei Hou can be seen in the Central Subway in San Francisco, California.
Artist: Yumei Hou
Category: Public Art
Location: Chinatown–Rose Pak Station, San Francisco, California
Fabrication & Installation: Gizmo Art Production, Inc.
Date: February, 2022
Gizmo Art Production, Inc. worked with renowned Chinese paper-cut artist Yumei Hou to translate her intricate artwork into permanent architectural installations for San Francisco’s Chinatown–Rose Pak Station.
Hou’s work draws from the centuries-old Chinese tradition of paper cutting, characterized by delicate lines, complex patterns, and carefully composed positive and negative space. Transforming artwork of this nature into durable, large-scale public art required a fabrication approach that preserved the character and detail of the original designs while meeting the structural and material demands of a major transit environment.
Gizmo developed fabrication solutions that allowed Hou’s detailed imagery to move from the scale and delicacy of hand-cut paper into permanent architectural elements. Our team coordinated the artwork, materials, fabrication methods, finishing, assembly, and installation to maintain the integrity of the artist’s original compositions throughout the process.
Precision was especially important. Small changes in line weight, spacing, or geometry could significantly alter the appearance of the artwork. Gizmo’s designers and fabricators worked through these details while accounting for material thicknesses, attachment systems, structural requirements, tolerances, and installation conditions.
The completed works bring Hou’s distinctive visual language into the architecture of Chinatown–Rose Pak Station, connecting a contemporary San Francisco transit project with the artistic and cultural traditions of Chinatown.
The project reflects a central part of Gizmo’s work: helping artists transform ambitious concepts into permanent public art while protecting the intent and character of the original artwork.
Gizmo Scope: Design Assist • Engineering Coordination • Digital Fabrication • Metal Fabrication • Finishing • Installation • Public Art Integration
