Lim Tze Peng, dubbed S'pore's national treasure, dies at 103

Pioneer artist best known for ink scenes of old Chinatown and Singapore River

- Shawn Hoo

Singapore's oldest living artist Lim Tze Peng, best known for his Chinese ink scenes of old Chinatown and the Singapore River, as well as his distinct calligraphic idiom termed "muddled writing", has died at 103.

According to a report in Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao, he died on Feb 3 at 6pm. His eldest son, Mr Lim Su Kok, told Zaobao that his father was hospitalised for pneumonia in January.

Lim is the subject of a major ongoing solo exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore (NGS), along with at least three recently concluded exhibitions in private galleries.

Ms Jazz Chong - owner of Ode To Art gallery, which has represented Lim for 17 years - said: "He is like a grandfather to me, one of the most compassionate and inspiring people in my life. His dedication to his art was unwavering, and even in his final months, it was a joy to see him still painting happily."

Gallerist Goh Chee Keong, who ran a solo exhibition by Lim titled Elan at Confluence Art Space until January, said Lim's death was "a significant loss to our art scene".

He recalled how Lim encouraged him as a teenager when he showed the older artist some of his calligraphy work. Although Mr Goh deemed his work "rough around the edges", Lim sat patiently with him, talking about brush strokes and styles and sharing stories.