I am glad to share one of my Chinese ink and colour brush paintings (An Imminent Thunderstorm at the West Lake), which I created after visiting the famous scenic West Lake in Hangzhou (where I delivered an invited plenary lecture for a Chinese National Congress of Laboratory Medicine.)

Imminent Thunderstorm

After the congress (attended by more than a thousand participants and trade exhibitors of clinical laboratory equipment), the organisers of the meeting took me and a few other invited speakers on a tour of famous cultural and scenic sights in the city (including a most pleasant boat ride on the West Lake).

My painting features a boat trip on the West Lake. A group of friends decided to spend a day on the Westlake to catch up, enjoy the surrounding beautiful scenery and cool breeze and do a bit of fishing. Unexpectedly, halfway during the boat trip, the bright sky turned dark with ominous clouds fast gathering and lightning occasionally appearing, indicating an imminent thunderstorm. Strong winds swept across the lake’s surface, causing the formation of high and threatening waves that started to rock the boats, compelling them to return to the banks to seek shelter.

Anchored beneath rows of tall willow trees lining the banks of the lake, friends in the four boats laid out their picnic meals on the tables and enjoyed delicious snacks with tea, hearty conversation, and joyous a cappella singing while waiting for the storm to subside.

Tan It Koon

Before retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry at SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of the Spore Cultural Foundation. He received the National Day Awards, PBM, and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in Public Administration.