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.​

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BIOGRAPHY

Born 1921

 

Background
1977    Special Prize, Commonwealth Art Exhibition, England
1981    National Day Award (PBM), Singapore
2003    Cultural Medallion, Singapore
2016    Meritorious Service Medal, Singapore

As Singapore’s most significant living artist, Mr Lim has a remarkable repertoire of paintings depicting the Singapore River, Chinatown and Kampung life. Having grown up in the villages of Singapore, Lim was deeply affected by the rapid modernisation going on around him and made it his mission to document what was left of the old Singapore. This was highly influential on Lim’s artistic exploits as it engendered a sense of romanticism, reminiscence and a reverence for tradition. His latest abstract calligraphic creations are exceptional examples of his pioneering ‘Nanyang’ spirit. Through the creative addition of colour to calligraphy, Lim Tze Peng has created a new expression that is modern, yet holds true to preserving Chinese tradition and culture.