Years ago, I was glad to have been brought to visit the Kyoto Handicraft Center when I was in Kyoto for a Japanese National Congress on Quality Assurance of Clinical Laboratory Testing for Patient Diagnosis and Management. As a guest and speaker of the Congress, the organising host was most gracious and generous in providing me with not only first-class return flights but also accommodation at the best hotel in Kyoto and also tours of famous sights, including a boat tour across Lake Hakone to visit a large open-air Sculpture Park.
The Kyoto Handicraft Center occupies several stories. Each storey features different kinds of traditional art: woodblock prints, scrolled paintings, art objects, and jewellery (with Damascene art of gold inlay covered with enamel), Japanese Cloisonné wares (quite different from those of China), ceramic ware, yukatas and kimonos, Japanese dolls, lacquerware, etc.
I spent several hours on other floors watching the artisans creating their works of art and selecting pieces that I would acquire. Eventually, I chose a Damascene gold pendant for my mum, a pair of cuff links for myself, woodblock prints on typical Japanese scenery, cloisonné vases decorated with cherry blossom images, display plate decorated with multiple chrysanthemum flowers painted in different colors and outlined with real gold in heated liquid form, and four porcelain teacups with different designs. Please enjoy these beautiful art and craft objects from Kyoto.
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.
