Taiwan Today

Some 15 years ago, Senorita Elena Ramirez of Uruguay began what was to become a lifetime study of Chinese culture. She learned Chinese language, literature and art from Prof. Hsiao Yu in Uruguay and then went on to become an admirer of the political thought of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the Founding Father of the Republic of China.

On Dr. Sun's centennial four years ago, she established Sun Yat-sen College in Montevideo and became its chancellor. But until last December, Prof. Ramirez had never seen China. She arrived in Taipei the day after Christmas for a two- month stay. Greeting her were Prof. Beauson Tseng of National Taiwan University and other scholars. Cutting the ribbon (bottom) for an exhibition of her paintings and calligraphies and works of her students was Education Vice Minister Chu Hui-shen

 

Prof. Ramirez demonstrated her skill as painter and calligrapher during a four-day exhibition at the National Historical Museum in Taipei. Artists and students showed great interest. Grinding the ink for her (top) is Jen Pei-tao, a member of the Legislative Yuan. Prof. Ramirez is also versed in Chinese poetry.

 

These are examples of Chinese paintings by Prof· Ramirez. She brought 75 works with her from Uruguay, most of them her own. Although this was her first visit to Taiwan, 150 of her paintings and calligraphies were displayed in a Taipei show back in 1963. One of Prof. Ramirez's favorite Chinese painters is Madame Chiang Kai-shek and she has copied the First Lady's style in some of her own work.

 

There are many styles of calligraphy and Prof. Ramirez has mastered several of them. She is writing in the familiar style of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The two large characters mean "fraternity". The so-called "gross script" (ts'ao shu), which is really a running style, looks easy but is difficult, she says.

 

The first scroll at right is in the hsin shu style, which comes between kai shu (formal script) and ts'ao shu. The second and third calligraphies are ts'ao shu and the fourth and fifth are hsin shu. Stylistic mastery requires patience and practice.

 

Dressed in the Chinese chipao, the charming visitor from South America presented one of her paintings and her rendering of the character for "longevity" to the Bureau of Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Education. She told of her long love affair with Chinese art and culture and her pleasure in passing this on to others. Her Montevideo college has more than 200 students. Two of them are overseas Chinese.

 

"Flowers" is by one of Prof. Ramirez's students. The calligraphy on the painting is hers. More than 5,000 persons attended the Taipei showing of her works and those of her students. Many artists came because of dubious curiosity but went away convinced of both her deep sincerity and real ability in Chinese art.