About the artwork
In this work, Lim Tze Peng depicts a street in Chinatown with various coffee shops, a frequent and familiar sight in old Singapore. Lim presents a picture that reflects the past and yet enlivens it with glimpses of life and motion. Intricate strokes derived from calligraphy and the use of classic ink wash imbue the image with gradients and tones that exude emotion. He renders the scene with exquisite detail, depicting the nuances of the facades of the shophouses as well as the various patrons. Lim’s use of negative space as a border imbue the work with a sense of nostalgia, reminding the viewer that this scene is one of a bygone era, and leaving them with further thoughts to ponder. The painting is testament to the far-ranging vision of the artist and his meticulous skill that merges with emotion in flowing strokes of ink.
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.