Dimensions Vol. 1 - Issue 1 - December 2023

Often seen as opposite ends, mathematics and art are two disciplines that have constantly been perceived as fields that barely intersect and connect. While one is often associated with rigidity and cold calculation, the other is popularly characterized by freedom and creativity. Nevertheless, the life and artwork of the late Mari-Jo Ruiz proves that such dichotomies are mere social constructs—math and art can indeed complement one another.

In celebration of the International Women’s Month, the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writing (ALiWW) organized Multiplying Grace: the Math and Art of Mari-Jo Ruiz, which showcased the late educator’s innovative works in the field of mathematics and art. To make the exhibit possible, ALiWW collaborated with the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) and the Coastal Cities At Risk in the Philippines (CCAR-PH) of the Office of the President. The exhibit was located at the ALiWW Reading Room, with an extension along the halls of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) Building, beside SOM 111 or the Ching Tan Room.

The exhibit formally opened last March 20, 2023 with a program at the Rizal Library Special Collections Building. Hosted by the Director of University Gender and Development Office Melissa Lao, the program consisted of multiple key guests sharing their experiences with Ruiz, emphasizing the event’s efforts in remembering and memorializing her wonderful life. Among many notable others, these guests include Vice President for the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Maria Luz Vilches, PhD, JGSOM Dean Roberto Martin Galang, PhD, Sociology and Anthropology Professor Emma Porio, and Joanna Ruiz—the daughter of Mari-Jo Ruiz.

The speakers recognized her legacy in the Ateneo through her service as the Chair of the Mathematics Department, the Chair of the Management Engineering Program—which she played a key role in forming, and the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

The event also recognized Ruiz’s work in forwarding the value of gender and development within the Ateneo, having been credited as one of the proponents of the ALiWW. “She is forever present as we honor her today, especially during Women’s Month,” Vilches said in her speech.

Emphasizing the connections between math and art, the exhibit embodies Ruiz’s ideals of how math and art “are sustained by the same ‘unitary source,’” referencing Arthur Koestler’s words in its exhibition statement. Among the artwork showcased in the exhibit are interactive tessellations and masterfully crafted paintings of flowers, all of which display Ruiz’s precision in everything she does. Alongside these pieces are explanations of Ruiz’s legacies in mathematics, such as her research on the Combinatorial Techniques for Loop Switching in Telecommunication Networks.

Isa Nazareno, the exhibit curator, shared that the planning process was both “a challenge and a pleasure,” as she did not know Ruiz as personally as the other guests. However, with great persistence and consultation, Nazareno—together with ALiWW—managed to justly arrange a collection that embodies Ruiz’s intellect and creativity.

“[My mom] was truly an artist,” Joanna, Ruiz’s oldest daughter, said in her message. “She was an artist just as much as she was other things. [...] Her artistic nature was visible in everything she did.”

Although the exhibit ended on April 29, 2023, Ruiz’s multidisciplinary legacies will undeniably be celebrated. More than just her intellect and creativity, Ruiz continues and will continue to be remembered by her exponential grace and tireless service.

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Text: Ryan Suarez

Photo: Christiane Oriana