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.Lim, whose paintings of Singapore streets now serve as reminders of a bygone era, depicts one of the traditional trades that is fast disappearing. ‘Cakeshop’ features a traditional Chinese confectionary which was a common sight in Singaporeuntil the latter part of the 20th century.
