Untitled (Chinese Baskets and Cakes)

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.As still life painting allows an artist to hone his observation skills, Lim kept up with the practice throughout his artistic career, producing countless charming depictions of tropical fruit and vegetable arrangements.