Twee façades met versieringen in Shanghai voor het diamanten jubileum van Victoria van het Verenigd Koninkrijk 1897

These photographs by W.R. Kahler capture facades decorated in Shanghai for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Garlands and flags adorn the buildings, signaling allegiance and celebration. These decorations are more than mere adornment; they are visual assertions of power and connection. The flags, symbols of national identity, transform these buildings into temporary monuments of British influence. Consider how the garland, in ancient times, symbolized honor and festivity, linking back to pagan rituals, now repurposed in a colonial context. The act of decorating buildings for celebrations is an ancient impulse—think of the Roman triumphs, or even earlier, the processional routes of ancient Babylon. This impulse, carried through generations, connects us to a deeper, almost subconscious need to mark significant moments with visual displays of collective emotion. Such displays tap into our shared memories. The very act of festooning public spaces becomes a powerful force, engaging viewers and solidifying social bonds across cultures and time.