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.Traditional and cultural activities have been subjects of Lim’s paintings as part of his attempt to document the rich heritage of Singapore. In danger of vanishing, traditional Chinese street operas are rare in Singapore nowadays. Depicted here is a Chinese opera performer with props and costumes behind him.
