About the artwork
This painting by Lim Tze Peng depicts a bustling street in front of a mooncake shop, in which a seller hawks her fruits to passing pedestrians. Lim’s bushwork and bold lines clearly define the forms of the architecture, people and wares, and he demonstrates his skilful use of colour in this work. The rustic earth-toned background is imbued with captivating energy and spirit, through his use of rich and warm colour washes, such as the intense red of the banners and lanterns, as well as the green fruits being sold. Lim’s artistic mastery has made him Singapore’s oldest living artistic legend, and he brilliantly captures a vibrant scene of a bygone era of old Singapore.
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.