Chinese ink and colour on paper
67 x 67 cm (unframed), 86 x 85.5 cm (framed)
Painted in 1984, Provision Shop belongs to Lim Tze Peng’s early body of Singapore street and urban scenes produced from the late 1970s through the 1980s. These works were created during a period of rapid urban redevelopment, when areas such as Chinatown and the Singapore River were undergoing significant transformation. In response, Lim undertook sustained on-site ink painting to record streetscapes facing imminent change.
In Provision Shop, the neighbouring blocks are rendered with translucent brushstrokes and appear to recede into the background, spotlighting the shopfront detailed in richly saturated ink. Hanging goods, open gunny sacks, and products arranged tightly reflect the everyday life of a traditional provision shop, capturing a familiar scene from Singapore in the 1980s.
The 1980s marked a turning point in Lim Tze Peng’s career. After retiring from education in 1981, he became a full-time artist and devoted himself to capturing the landscapes of old Singapore during this period. Lim worked en plein air almost daily, painting directly from observation using Chinese ink on rice paper. Due to the practical limitations of working outdoors, most works from this period were painted on rice paper measuring around 70 by 70 cm.
Provenance:
Private collection
Artcommune Gallery
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Literature:
Redefining the Archaic: The Art of Lim Tze Peng, Melvin Poh, 2018, p.70
Exhibition history:
Redefining the Archaic: The Art of Lim Tze Peng, Artspace@Helutrans, 28 July – 12 August 2018
Location: Singapore
