At athletic stadiums, both here in the Republic of China and around the world, you can often see multi-colored and variable flash cards arranged especially for an event. These magically changing pictures were originated by Huang Chun, an art teacher at the Taipei First Girls' High School. These flash cards have not only altered the style of cheer-leading around the world, but at the same time have become a very successful form of foreign diplomacy.

President Chiang Ching-kuo once asked Huang how he became involved with the flash cards. Huang Chun answered, "What others don't dare try or are unwilling to do, I want to try."

Besides teaching at the school, Huang Chun also directs the drama, dancing, and singing groups. In fact, the First Girls High School's famous honor guard, the first in the ROC, was started by Huang. Beautifying life with art is Huang's ideal, and this was the reason behind his creating the flash cards.

In 1969, Taipei First Girls' High School's athletic activities were poorly attended. Huang Chun and the then director of Taipei's Department of Education, Liu Hsien-yun, discussed ways to make events more lively and increase attendance. The result of their discussions was that the next year Huang started his flash card program with one thousand students dressed in either white or green uniforms. They did very simple patterns such as "TFG" (Taipei First Girls' School) or "GO".

Huang experimented with many materials until he decided to use plywood, with a sheet of colored plastic on each side. However, he was not satisfied at such a simple stage and he kept researching, analyzing, and improving until today 10 different colored sheets of cloth are attached to each board and over 100 different patterns can be displayed. In fact, flash cards have progressed to the point that animated cartoons are now possible.

When "Sinorama" interviewed Huang Chun, he and his wife were just in the midst of designing new patterns. The floor of their apartment was covered with discarded designs and Mrs. Huang commented that usually they must draw four rough drafts before they come up with something they can work with. Huang elaborated that each design is drawn onto paper ruled 27 squares high and 200 wide for a total of 5,400 squares; each one representing a student.

The 5,400 students are divided into four groups for performances, each group is made up of 27 rows of students, 50 students across. Every student has an assigned seat. At the beginning of each row is the row leader who is responsible for giving each student in her row instructions.

During performances Huang Chun stands on a platform before the grandstand where all the students can see him. In each hand he holds a large flag and at his signal students have four seconds to flip to the proper color.

Animated patterns are much more difficult to design and execute but the method is basically the same. On a signal all students flip to the first color and then count to two, then flip again. An animated pattern usually consists of four different pictures.

As Huang Chun's flash card patterns grew more sophisticated they started to draw the attention of people from all around the world. In 1975, Huang was invited to perform in the October 10 National Day celebration. Among those in attendance was a representative of the king of Swaziland who took pictures of the flash card performance. In September 1978, when Swaziland was celebrating the tenth anniversary of its independence, they invited Huang Chun to come and teach the Swazi children his art.

Since then he has been visited by people from many Southeast Asian nations seeking to learn his art. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consequently arranged many lectures for him. Last August, Huang and his wife made a trip to Panama to teach the youngsters the art of flash cards. For the event they performed twenty different designs. The highlight of the program was a portrait of their late President Omar Torrijos.

Although Huang Chun has been extremely successful with his flash cards, he still is not satisfied. His next ambitious undertaking is to coordinate flash cards with sound. For instance, when a train moves across the grandstand, he wants to hear the sound of the train move with it. He realizes this will take a great deal of work but as he says, "What others don't dare try or are unwilling to do, I want to try."

[Picture Caption]

1. Flash card images are colorful and varied; they range from simple words to animated cartoons. Here a temple is displayed. 2. Here is the originator of flash card pictures, Huang Chun, directing students preparing for a performance. 3. Taipei First Girls' High School students make use of their free time to practice.

1. When Huang Chun went to Panama to teach Youngsters there the art of flash card pictures, Panamanians were amazed and deeply moved when a portrait of their late President Torrijos appeared. 2. Before any images can appear on the flash cards they must first be designed on ruled paper. 3. Whether it is before, during, or after performances, Huang Chun's wife is always there to help.

Here is the originator of flash card pictures, Huang Chun, directing students preparing for a performance.

Taipei First Girls' High School students make use of their free time to practice.

When Huang Chun went to Panama to teach Youngsters there the art of flash card pictures, Panamanians were amazed and deeply moved when a portrait of their late President Torrijos appeared.

Before any images can appear on the flash cards they must first be designed on ruled paper.

Whether it is before, during, or after performances, Huang Chun's wife is always there to help.