Ganesh Ramasamy- Making Friends with the Locals／高雄輕軌的生力軍 Ganesh Ramasamy
Ganesh Ramasamy- Making Friends with the Locals
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photo by Hou Ya-ting
Spanish based CAF (Construcciones Y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) is the contracted company that is responsible for building Kaohsiung's Light Rail Transit. Many foreign nationals have contributed significantly to its construction. Having arrived in Kaohsiung a year ago, Ganesh Ramasamy is one of the foreign nationals who has been working on the project. His role is the Warranty Manager. A Malaysian of Indian decent, he said half of Malaysian population originated from India, while the other from China. Growing up with such diverse society, the Chinese culture was familiar to him. He feels that due to his multicultural background it has been easy for him to adapt and blend into life in Kaohsiung.
Mr. Ramasamy pointed out that Kaohsiung's Light Rail Transit is the first in the world to have a catenary-free system. The exciting project was a substantial contract for CAF. Now that it has been completed, it is the pride and joy of Kaohsiung. "If someone wants to experience the most advanced light rail transit in the world, they've got to come to Kaohsiung!" he exclaims.
Mr. Ramasamy converses in Mandarin at a conversational level, but has limited Taiwanese. However, he has made many great friends with the Kaohsiung locals; many of whom do not speak English. He also goes to the traditional market where he gets his fish. He has made friends with an older lady that has a market stall. The lady sold him the fish at a much lower price than the previous man that he bought fish from. Now he is a loyal customer to the lady he calls "auntie". He likes it that she explains to him in great detail how fresh the fish is and the characteristics of the catch of the day. Although he doesn't understand most of what she says, he always catches the gist and every time he goes back, she is always happy to see him. "I buy fish from Auntie and no other!" he declares. It goes to show that language is no barrier when it comes to friendship. Mr. Ramasamy feels that in order for one to get a more authentic experience living in Kaohsiung, it is important to respect and identify with the local culture and participate in local activities.
高雄輕軌的生力軍 Ganesh Ramasamy
◎文、攝影／侯雅婷
高雄輕軌第一階段試營運將於今(2015)年8月上路，有許多外籍朋友也一同為輕軌建設貢獻心力，Ganesh Ramasamy是輕軌統包廠商西班牙CAF公司保固經理，一年前進駐高雄服務，Ganesh指出，高雄輕軌是全世界第一個採用全線無架空線系統的城市，因此高雄輕軌對他所屬的西班牙CAF公司意義重大，更是高雄的榮耀，Ganesh 說：「未來想體驗最先進的輕軌，就得造訪高雄！」
馬來西亞籍的Ganesh一身黝黑的膚色反映出他印度裔的血統，Ganesh說，馬來西亞人口中，來自印度和中國移民大約各佔一半，耳濡目染，他非常熟悉中國文化，連燒金紙文化都習以為常，多元文化背景讓他很適應高雄生活。
Ganesh僅會說基礎的中文和一點點台語，令人詫異的是，他卻與許多壓根就不會說英文的高雄人成為老朋友。Ganesh會到傳統市場買魚，搭配從馬來西亞帶來的印度香料烹飪，有回他上市場買魚，漁販是位年長的阿姨，他驚訝的發現，漁販阿姨實惠的價格遠比他上次向別攤購買一模一樣的漁貨來得便宜許多，自此，Ganesh成為忠實顧客，每回阿姨總再三跟他解釋魚的特色和魚貨有多新鮮，聽不懂那麼多中文和台語的他卻能從漁販阿姨的情緒和肢體語言，察覺她非常高興他來買魚，Ganesh直言 ：「我買魚只跟阿姨買！」足見友誼不受限語言的屏障。
Ganesh建議計畫長住高雄的外籍友人，一定要尊重、認同當地文化，並參與在地活動，體驗更道地、美好的風土人情。
Ms. Fan Tzu-han's Unique Enamel and Metal Craftwork
◎English translation: Wendy Wei Chang
Metal craft designer, Ms. Fan Tzu-han shows off her "Corner I" brooch, which recently won second place in the 28th International Cloisonne Jewelry Contest at the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo. The brooch was crafted from a combination of enamel and metal and is symbolic of her old san ho yuan (traditional Taiwanese house). The image on the brooch is a rice paddy seen from a window with an egret resting on the sill. Copper was used to create the sun-drenched trees, and tile from Ms. Fan's hometown was also incorporated. The delicate brooch reflects memories of the artist's hometown.
Ms. Fan created her own jewelry brand "Iry Fang" after completing her Master's degree at Tainan National University of the Arts. She specializes in metal crafts, brooches, earrings, and necklaces etc. Her work is creative and designs are inspired by her own perspectives, feelings and life experiences. Taiwanese tiles have become an important component as she feels it reflects Taiwanese culture. She also incorporates polished pebbles technique (a technique that was used in Taiwanese old buildings) to create a series of necklaces. Ms. Fan used plastic-steel soil and colorful pebbles to create various shapes of jewelry. She combines classic enamel, metals craft and her polished pebble technique to present modern brooches, earrings and necklaces.
Ms. Fan is constantly finding new ways to create unique and marketable jewelry. Each piece is an original design inspired by her mood. Her work is always heartwarming and creative. She even has some longtime, loyal customers. Some of her customers have collected her jewelry while she was still a student.
Ms. Fan confesses that starting a business is a bit like gambling. However, she faces challenges with fearless determination and never gives up.
| Facebook:Iry Fang Jewelry & Object Design |
方姿涵用琺瑯和金工說故事
◎文／侯雅婷
金工設計師方姿涵的胸針作品「角落I」榮獲2015年東京上野森美術館第28屆國際景泰藍首飾競賽第二名卓越獎的佳績，結合琺瑯與金工技法，演繹她對老家三合院的記憶，老家地磚躍入作品，窗外景緻藉由紅銅呈現樹景剪影，窗旁鑲嵌太陽和棲息於上方的白鷺絲是方姿涵老家窗外的田中一隅，作品既細膩且饒富故事性。
方姿涵自台南藝術大學研究所畢業後自創品牌Iry Fang，專攻金屬物件和首飾設計，創意作品令人驚豔！她的作品反映對日常生活敏銳觀察和感受，成為創作的養分。而她最鍾情的台灣地磚圖騰成為創作主軸，地磚是她觀察台灣文化的紀錄，進而衍生以台灣老建築的「磨石子」技法，發展出一系列別緻的項鍊，使用塑鋼土加入彩色細石磨出不同造形的首飾，結合看似古典的琺瑯、金工以及「磨石子」技法，演繹當代的胸針、耳環和項鍊。
現階段，她思考著如何把創作製成具市場性的飾品，且不流失她的設計味道 ，保有作品的獨特性。由於她的手作品隨著心境不同而展現各異的創作形式，賦予作品動人的溫度和趣味的意境，有些女性顧客更從方姿涵學生時代就開始收藏她的作品。
方姿涵坦言，創業就像賭一把！帶著初生之犢的勇氣，她期許自己，挑戰未來，不輕言放棄。
| 臉書:Iry Fang Jewelry & Object Design |