About the artwork
In a swift motion, Lim's brush glides across the rice paper with dexterity and precision to produce this elegant piece of calligraphy. The gold, which commonly represents auspiciousness, prosperity and grandeur, exists in total harmony with the matte black ink; never overlapping or dominating but simply filling the space between and around the black strokes. With this tight composition, Lim establishes a symbiotic relationship between tradition and modernity, a style which he has come to personify and embody in his artistic journey with his relentless experimentation.
About the artist
Born in Singapore in 1921, Lim Tze Peng is one of Singapore’s most significant artists and a living legend. 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.