Intercambio - Taiwan - 2010/2011
My artistic journey began at the age of six when I used to watch my mother dedicating herself to acrylic paintings, creating artworks on table napkins, and even on soaps. The experience of seeing colors and shapes come to life sparked a deep interest in me.
As time went by, my desire to paint grew. At the age of twelve, I had the opportunity to take the first steps in my artistic journey. I was enrolled in a painting studio in the small town of Moreira Sales, PR, where I had my first experiences with oil paint. It was an exciting moment because I was finally beginning to learn how to handle paints and brushes. Despite its simplicity, it was still a great experience that yielded some paintings I still cherish today.
However, the classes didn't last long as life presented other responsibilities. The need to prioritize my high school studies became paramount, and my dream of honing my artistic skills had to wait a little longer. But my passion for art never disappeared, and my journey was just beginning.
A short time later, between the years 2010/2011, I had the opportunity to participate in a long-term exchange program to Taiwan, sponsored by the Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee District 4630 - Brazil.
This experience was transformative, allowing me to engage with different perspectives and cultures. I chose to live in Kaohsiung, a city located in the south of Taiwan, where the cultural influence of traditional populations is notable, and even the Chinese language has been influenced by local dialects.
The selection process for this program involved interviews with two representatives from the Rotary Club, general knowledge and foreign language tests, as well as participation in training meetings. Additionally, candidates could not be older than 18 years old by the departure date.
After the selection, the qualified participants had the opportunity to choose their destination country. At that time, I chose Taiwan due to my fascination with Eastern culture. During my participation in the program, sponsored by the Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee District 4630 - Brazil, I lived in Taiwan from August 2010 to July 2011.
There, I had the opportunity to learn many things, including Mandarin, local culture, the art of bonsai, ink and watercolor painting, as well as Kendo. I studied at Kaohsiung Commercial High School in the Advertisement Design course, where I met Professor Ma Lao Shi, who taught me valuable techniques for ink and watercolor drawing and painting.
In addition to my academic activities, I immersed myself deeply in Taiwanese culture. I attended bonsai classes every Sunday morning at an artistic and craft fair, ink and watercolor painting classes every Thursday evening at a school near my host family's home, and Kendo classes every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning.
This immersion allowed me to fully absorb the customs and traditions of this wonderful and welcoming country. After my return to Brazil, it didn't take long for me to start reaping the benefits of this experience. Two months later, during a Rotary meeting in Maringá, PR, I was hired by the company Boa Compra (acquired by UOL) to perform basic Mandarin to Portuguese translation work.
The support and sponsorship of the Rotary Club were essential in realizing this dream. This experience was of paramount importance to my personal growth and my understanding of the diverse world we live in. Getting to know a people so different from what I was used to, with their rich culture and traditions, made me realize that with effort, dedication, and education, we can achieve any desired goal. Furthermore, the respect and reverence for elders were aspects that impressed me, especially when teachers were greeted by students upon entering the classroom. Lastly, the concept of friendship among them is unique, based on sincerity and honesty.
This opportunity to go to Taiwan, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Moreira Sales, allowed me to study at a design school in the city of Kaohsiung.
There, I had the chance to meet Professor Ma (Ma Lao Shi), who taught me techniques of proportion, depth, shading, and luminosity. During the same opportunity, I also took classes with a Chinese painting teacher, a highly delicate technique.
Here are some artworks I created during the exchange period in the years 2010/2011.
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