Born in 1923, Lim Tze Peng is mainly a self-taught artist. Ink paintings and calligraphic works are predominantly featured in his work, though there is a small collection of early 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. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2003.As Singapore underwent urban development in the 1980s many old streets and sights disappeared. Lim’s paintings, such as this small dilapidated sundry shop cramped full with a staggering array of goods, have captured for posterity a slice of life from a bygone era.
