Master strokes

AT 95 years of age, Lim Tze Peng is the last of his generation - the artists who captured on canvas images of Chinatown and the Singapore River in their original forms. In the later part of his career, Lim turned to abstract calligraphy - both of which will go on show at an upcoming exhibition in honour of his birthday.

Fittingly, some 95 paintings and calligraphy have been picked - most created in his 60-year-plus career, with several new calligraphy works. He stopped painting landscapes a few years ago.

The stylistically abstract calligraphy has become the Chinese ink artist's signature, says Jazz Chong, director of Ode to Art gallery. "It's a stylistic breakthrough by the artist himself from the traditional forms of expression, channelling himself and his strong personality into his work."