Lim Tze Peng

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and sound. There are indications of minor wear and handling around the edges, but the paint layers are well-preserved and stable. Under ultraviolet light inspection, there is no evidence of restoration. Framed.
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Lim Tze Peng is one of Singapore’s most distinguished artists living today. The artist was honored with the prestigious Cultural Medallion Award in 2003. Since the 1960s, Lim has worked closely with some of the country’s most influential artists such as Yeh Chi Wei, Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Chong Swee—all of whom have played crucial roles in establishing the art scene of Singapore. Seeking for new materials and visual inspiration, Lim and his peers embarked on frequent painting expeditions throughout Southeast Asia between 1960’s and 1970’s. The participants of these journeys became known as the “Ten Men Group,” sharing a similar spirit as the Big Four’s historic trip to Bali in 1952 that emblematized the Nanyang art style. The vast region and rich heritage of Southeast Asia encouraged the individual members of the “Ten Men Group” to explore aesthetic styles with a renewed Nanyang creative expression. It is was a painting of Bali, submitted by Cheong Soo Pieng, to the Commonwealth Art Exhibition in England, that won Lim his first ever art prize in 1977.

It may be the said that Lim’s fervent search for local colors during his trips abroad, inspired the artist to reconnect with his heritage. The 1980’s marked an important transition for Lim, and this is evident throughout the artworks. During this period he painted many scenes of the Singaporean landscape. His retirement from teaching allowed the artist to devote his time to document the emergence of urbanization in Singapore, and the many changing faces of the city.

The present work Singapore River is a beautiful rendition of the old ambience that once colored the Asian city. The river flows across the canvas, encompassing part the pictorial frame with its majestic presence. The artist’s vision of the river scene is evident within the carefully selected sepia-toned color palette, as well as the detail he has applied to the body of water and the wooden cargo boats. The kaleidoscope-inspired pastel colors of the sky and river, further intensifies the reflections of the sunlight upon the river’s surface. Framing the water banks are rows of dilapidated kampong (village) houses, a visual reference to the country’s past. The men on bicycles and the figures admiring the scenery on the Cavenagh Bridge reflect the rhythm of how daily life used to be.

Singapore River exudes a nostalgia and subdued charm. The quiet scene is achieved by Lim’s unique calligraphic strokes, breathing life into a period that no longer exists. The work captures the scents, sounds and energy of this forgotten era, and transports viewers back to the Singapore of yesteryear.