Alexander Wang transforms Chinatown in NYC with a new creative HQ — 20,000 paper planes take flight for Chinese New Year

This Chinese New Year, something historic happened in New York’s Chinatown — and it’s bigger than just an art show.

Designer Alexander Wang and his mother Ying Wang purchased the Beaux Arts landmark at 58 Bowery for a reported $9.5 million last year — marking the first time in its 100-year history that the building is under Chinese American ownership. For a century, it had been owned by banking institutions. Now? It’s a cultural hub.

Their vision came to life with the launch of The Wang Contemporary, dedicated to showcasing Asian and Asian-American creativity across generations. And for its grand opening during Chinese New Year, they went big.

The inaugural exhibition, created with Brooklyn collective MSCHF, is titled “20,000 Variations On A Paper Plane In Flight.” From Feb 20–22, once every hour, a cascade of red and gold paper planes drops dramatically from the building’s central oculus. 🛩️ Each plane carries a single English noun — turning the installation into a chaotic, poetic fortune moment. 🎹 Composer Yeonjoon Yoon performs a live evolving piano score as the planes descend.

And then there was Kaka — a young artist who performed Beijing Opera in full-on “yabi” style: dark, alt, slightly gothic, totally Gen Z-coded. Think traditional opera vocals, but styled like underground fashion week. Old culture, new skin.

A century-old building. A new chapter. Chinese New Year, but make it future-facing. 🧧✨