Born in 1923, Lim Tze Peng is largely a self-taught artist. In his oeuvre, ink paintings and calligraphic works feature prominently, although there is a small number of 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. Lim, a school principal until his retirement in the early 1980s, was awarded the Cultural Medallion by the Singapore government in 2003.Bali, an island which has fascinated many artists, is likewise an attraction for Lim, and he has returned many times to paint its people and landscape. Although his ink works are often executed in monochromatic hues, ‘Bali Festival’ is vividly coloured and energetic as it depicts a large group of devotees thronging the street during a festival.
