A noble figure settles in Taiwan
We had already heard much about Wang’s achievements. Now 96, she has led a life in three countries: China gave birth to her and is also the cradle of her cultural spirit; the United States is where she received her professional training, became steeped in the mores of modernism, and first gained recognition for her talent; and Taiwan is where she ended up, spending most of her hardworking and accomplished career.
To say that Wang comes from a renowned family is no exaggeration. Her father, Wang Shijie, was one of the first Chinese people to study law in Europe and was the founding president of Wuhan University. During the Republican era on the mainland, he served in several high-ranking government positions, including as minister of foreign affairs, minister of education, and president of the Academia Sinica. Wang Chiu-hwa’s fate became tied up with Taiwan when her father decamped to the island with Chiang Kai-shek in 1949.
Wang’s mother, Xiao Dehua, meanwhile, was a painter, whose brother Youmei was regarded as “the father of music education in modern China.” And one of Wang’s cousins on that side, the renowned painter Xiao Qin, was an earlier recipient of the National Award for Arts.
Although Wang did indeed come from an illustrious family, those who know her, including architects who have worked closely with her, agree that she is not at all proud. On the contrary, she is modest and gracious, held in high regard for her unselfishness and openmindedness.
That character is vividly apparent in her work. Take, for instance, Xue Hall: When we come for “Ms. Wang’s Movie Club,” put on by Wang’s fellow architects once a month, we discover that, like the building’s simple exterior, no luxurious or showy materials, decorations or furnishings are to be found inside. Upon entering, one’s eyes are drawn to an impressive grand piano. To its right is a spacious living room which is connected to a dining room with a big round Chinese-style table. The simple use of wood is the main decorating theme. The numerous windows and balconies around the residence create a chic effect. In addition to the lush plants, the garden also features a fish pool. The space offers cool breezes and stunning changes of light and shadow. The sense of intimacy with nature makes people feel that they have come to a hidden refuge within the busy city.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Detroit. Although Wang is not religious, Percival Goodman was Jewish, and together they designed many synagogues in the United States. (courtesy of Wang Chiu-hwa)