Artistic Bonds
Singapore Tatler|July 2017

The confluence of East and West is seen in the artistic crafts displayed at the Mastery of an Art: Van Cleef & Arpels – High Jewelry and Japanese Crafts exhibition in Kyoto. Karishma Tulsidas immerses herself in French and Japanese savoir faire.

Karishma Tulsidas
Artistic Bonds

THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES, art, in all its different forms, has served as a medium to understand societal structures, economic climate, as well as cultural norms of different eras. Historians have analysed the jewels Egyptians pharaohs wore to determine the motifs they held dear, or the gold smithing techniques mastered in the Mesopotamian era to understand how advanced their society was. So when French jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels invited us to Kyoto in Japan to visit its latest exhibition, Mastery of an Art: Van Cleef & Arpels – High Jewelry and Japanese Crafts, we were curious about the significance of the exhibition itself, as well as its location. Was it simply a matter of convenience, or was there a deeper, more incisive reason as to why the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, was chosen as the host?

A simplistic answer lies in the name of the exhibition. Mastery of an Art showcases works of joaillerie by the renowned French jeweller, alongside traditional Japanese crafts by artisans from the Meiji era onwards. The commonality is that the works showcase the incredible depth and breadth of savoir faire and creativity mastered by the craftsmen of each country.

This story is from the July 2017 edition of Singapore Tatler.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 2017 edition of Singapore Tatler.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SINGAPORE TATLERView All
How To Live Like A Royal In The British Countryside
Tatler Singapore

How To Live Like A Royal In The British Countryside

From Windsor to Bray, all it takes is a speedy jaunt away from the hustle and bustle of London to gain first-hand insights into the lives of the British royal family

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
Where Science Meets Skincare
Tatler Singapore

Where Science Meets Skincare

Through years of research, Chanel has determined the relationship between skin health and well‑being based on neuroscience technologies—and it has the products to prove it

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
Powder, Peaks And Pro Tips
Tatler Singapore

Powder, Peaks And Pro Tips

Embark on a winter wonderland getaway with this Tatler guide to all things ski, from the best destinations in Asia and Europe to looking chic on the slopes

time-read
8 mins  |
February 2024
HAUTE SPOTS
Tatler Singapore

HAUTE SPOTS

Nearly 15 years since her first visit to Niseko, Grace Chong-Tan’s love for this popular ski town in Hokkaido, Japan, continues to grow over the years. The founder and managing director of a dental practice shares her must-visit list

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
THE GOLDEN AGE
Tatler Singapore

THE GOLDEN AGE

At the launch of the L'Or de Jean Martell collection in Cognac, France, Martell's cellar master Christophe Valtaud unveils the first limited-edition expression of the Réserve du Château series

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
KINGDOM REIGN
Tatler Singapore

KINGDOM REIGN

How UAE's largest property developer Aldar is transforming Abu Dhabi into a land of real estate gold for the investment-seeking jetsetter elite

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
LET'S GET (META) PHYSICAL
Tatler Singapore

LET'S GET (META) PHYSICAL

Contrary to popular belief, the traditional practices of feng shui and ba zi are not only alive and well, but thriving among the younger set. Today's masters of Chinese metaphysics share how they are modernising the craft

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2024
COMING OF AGE
Tatler Singapore

COMING OF AGE

Meet the ladies at the front and centre of last year’s Le Bal des Débutantes

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
The Path to Parity
Tatler Singapore

The Path to Parity

Four prominent Singapore female leaders shed light on the under-representation of Asian women in global leadership through the lens of their own struggles and triumphs

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2024
Set in Stone
Tatler Singapore

Set in Stone

Tatler chats with Victoria Reynolds, the chief gemologist and vice president of Tiffany & Co, about the intricacies of design, her favourite jewellery and what it means to be a female leader in a male-dominated industry

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024