Born in 1923, Lim Tze Peng is largely a self-taught artist. In his oeuvre, ink paintings and calligraphic works feature prominently, although there is a small number of oils, watercolours and drawings. He created a unique style of ink painting using rich brush and tonal details, and this approach is often regarded as a manifestation of the Nanyang Style in the ink medium. Lim, a school principal until his retirement in the early 1980s, was awarded the Cultural Medallion by the Singapore government in 2003.The bustling streets and charming back alleys of old Singapore are recurring subjects in Lim’s paintings. Despite depicting them countless times, he has managed to keep each work fresh as he never merely depicts the physical elements, but the changing atmosphere, life and activities of the people and the environment. The free and fluid brushstrokes display his confident handling and mastery of the ink medium.
