Lim Tze Peng

Share

Share

Add fave View in room

About the artwork

This artwork by Lim Tze Peng depicts a lively Chinatown scene, showcasing the area’s vibrant street life. The central focus is on a corner of a traditional shophouse with distinct green shutters and laundry hanging from the windows. Below, a bustling market area is visible with a large striped umbrella, adding a lively touch to the composition. In the foreground, several coolie carts and figures suggest the busy trade and transport activities typical of old Singapore. The bright colors, especially the yellows and reds of the buildings and umbrellas, contrast beautifully against the softer blue sky. The people are simplified with clean lines and minimal detail, allowing the focus to remain on the atmosphere and energy of the street scene. The artist’s expressive brushwork and bold use of color evoke a sense of nostalgia for Singapore’s past, particularly its vibrant Chinatown.

About the artist

Born in Singapore in 1921, Lim Tze Peng is one of Singapore’s most significant artists and a living legend. Renowned for his Chinese ink creations of post-independence Singapore, he also practices Chinese calligraphy. Alongside local and international exhibitions, his masterpieces are exhibited in prominent Singapore institutions and part of many prestigious collections. Lim has been bestowed several awards including the Special Prize at the Commonwealth Art Exhibition in England in 1977 and the prestigious Cultural Medallion in Singapore in 2003. In May 2012, he broke records with the sale of his works at a Christies auction in Hong Kong.