Born in 1923, Lim Tze Peng is mainly a self-taught artist. Ink paintings and calligraphic works are predominantly featured in his work, though there is a small collection of early 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. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2003.The streets of early Singapore provided Lim with endless subject matter for his art. In ‘Keng Chew Street’, his eye for detail has captured the intricacies of living in shophouses, as well as street life. As urban development continues to take place in Singapore, this painting is a window to the past for the younger generation.
