Skip to main content

Be Strong, Be Gentle.

Art doll/photo : Rose Keemun by Wilma Simmons
Quote by Han Suyin 
I love this saying, by Han Suyin . It probably sums up her life as much as any of her writings.
Han Suyin, 1916-2012 ( Elizabeth Comber ) physician and author, had a Chinese - Flemish background. She is best known for her  strongly autobiographical fiction with a bi cultural setting , a clash of  values, traditions and ideas.  Her novels were  A Many Splendoured Thing, My House has Two Doors, and The  Crippled Tree. 
Younger  Han Suyin
Xiangwei, her editor writes: 
In the 1970s and 1980s, Han Suyin was frequently mentioned in the news in China. At least one hundred million people were aware of who she was. Before I become the editor of her books, her name only meant to me as a political figure. Every person of my age knew she was the biographer of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. But the publication of 'A Many-Splendored Thing' presented a rather different personality in her. She was such a sensitive person with great literary talent. I admired her for the depth of her thoughts in dealing with her relationship."
The eliciting descriptions of the tender hearts, chivalrous spirits, the infinitely affectionate relationship and the beautiful scenes on the hillside overlooking the Victoria Harbor have attracted many readers around the world, and made it into a successful Hollywood hit  from http://english.cri.cn/8706/2012/11/13/2241s732425.htm

 And probably this short article written after her death reinforces Han Suyin's  strong-gentle approach to life.... here's an extract...

Han Suyin defiantly straddled two worlds decades before multiculturalism became fashionable.
"We must carry ourselves with colossal assurance and say, 'Look at us, the Eurasians!' " the half-Chinese, half-Belgian physician and author whose career swept across continents and historic upheavals wrote in "A Many-Splendoured Thing," the 1952 novel that made her an international celebrity.

from. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/11/local/la-me-han-suyin-20121111

PS And here's an Australian connection.Han Suyin's second  husband , Leon Comber, author, multi-liguist and highly respected literary consultant and editor, was appointed Honorary Research Fellow at Monash University in 1991. They had been divorced since 1958. 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for reading my blog and please share your thoughts about my blog post by leaving a comment.Your comment won't appear immediately as comments are verified before publication in an effort to reduce the amount of spam appearing. Anonymous comments will not be published.

Popular posts from this blog

Too Precious to Waste

 Stitched tea bags/ old doily "tea lights" - Wilma Simmons  More than a year ago, a decision was made.  The annual exhibition of NCEATA ( Newcastle Creative Embroiderers and Textile Artists) 2015-2016 will have the theme "Mottainai". Mottainai in Japanese refers to more than just physical waste (resources). It is even used to refer to thought patterns that give rise to wasteful action. Grammatically, it can be used in Japanese as an exclamation ("mottainai!") or as an adjective phrase ("it feels mottainai"). There is no plural form. The collection of mottainai things could be called mottainai koto ( もったいない事 ? ). As an exclamation ("mottainai!") it means roughly "what a waste!" or "Don't waste." [2]  A simple English equivalent is the saying "waste not, want not." A more elaborate meaning conveys a sense of value and worthiness and may be translated as "do not destroy (or lay waste to) that
Post a Comment
Read more

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks ....  The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and  message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or  my husband or from off cuts gifted to us  from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks.   Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt  or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as wrapping str
3 comments
Read more

Wednesday's Child /2

Work in Progress - 3 of the 193 for "Stitched Up"- Wilma Simmons   The work for the "Stitched Up " Project  continues. See the previous "Wednesday Child" post for the background to this art project celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Newcastle Industrial School. I have been documenting the progress of my work, so I thought it might be interesting to share some of the early stages of the "stick dolls" ... Here are some of the beginning steps.. Sticks collected while walking the bushland in my neighbourhood  Drying and getting rid of any insects - oven heat 75 degreesC for approx 1-2 hours.  Trimmed and cut if necessary  Ends sealed with matte sealing solution.  Drying  - solution goes on white but dries clear.  First wrapping - foil to create a body shape  Second wrapping - stretch fabric.  Third wrapping - fabric strips  Some stitching - more stitching and embellishment to come.  Follow thi
Post a Comment
Read more