DPM Heng Swee Keat at the Opening of the Becoming Lim Tze Peng Exhibition

Mr Lim Tze Peng and family

Mr Peter Ho, Chairman of the Board of National Gallery Singapore

Mr Eugene Tan, CEO of National Gallery Singapore

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good evening to all of you. I am very happy to join all of you this evening to celebrate a very distinct icon of Singapore's art scene.

Indeed, the works of Mr Lim Tze Peng have not only captured the essence of our nation building, but also captured the hearts of art lovers around the world.

“Becoming Lim Tze Peng” is the National Gallery’s first solo exhibition dedicated to Mr Lim’s works, and celebrates his significant contributions to the visual arts scene.

The Chinese title 我画故我在 means "I paint, therefore I am".

Just like René Descartes's philosophy "I think, therefore I am" – this emphasises the deep twining of the artist's identity and his art.

Mr Lim’s unique art style reflects his life experiences, and brings together traditional and modern techniques including calligraphy, epigraphy, ink painting, oil painting, and poetry.

His iconic depictions of Singapore’s streetscapes, such as Chinatown and the Singapore River, and the vibrant hawker culture during that time chronicle our nation's transformation and form an important part of our unique cultural heritage and identity.

For my generation, these pieces immortalise our reminiscence of the charms of an earlier era.

I just had a tour of the exhibition, which showed how Mr Lim started his painting journey in Singapore, before travelling to the region, before displaying Mr Lim’s calligraphies later. In fact, looking at the 糊涂字 calligraphy – they are not muddle headed as 糊涂 means in Chinese, but actually shows tremendous strength!

Now, like many of our Pioneer and Merdeka generation, Mr Lim’s journey as an artist has been long and fruitful.

He was a self-taught artist, who learnt calligraphy from a young age before the Japanese occupation.

After the war, Mr Lim worked as a schoolteacher and a principal, and all this while, continued his love for the arts and honing his skills.

In 1960, he joined the Ten Men Group led by Mr Yeh Chi Wei, and went on art expeditions around Southeast Asia. Through these, he was introduced to pioneering Singaporean artists including Cheong Soo Pieng (钟泗宾) and Chen Wen Hsi (陈文希), who helped inspire and shape his artistic identity.

Mr Lim was also a model in lifelong learning and active ageing – before these terms were used widely today.

He became a full-time artist in 1981 at the age of 60, after retiring as the principal of Sin Min School, and received distinctions like the Cultural Medallion and the Meritorious Service Medal thereafter for his contributions to the arts.

Remarkably, now, at 103, he continues to break new ground, relentlessly honing his craft. His recent works hold an energy that defies age!

So, in a time of rapid economic, technological and social changes, I hope that our businesses and workers can take inspiration from Mr Lim that it is never too late to learn, and we must continue to learn, and to challenge ourselves to achieve mastery. Our best years are still ahead of us!

I hope that Mr Lim will also inspire our younger generation of artists to pursue their aspirations and continually define their identity, build their practice, and achieve mastery.

With the evolving arts landscape, supporting multiple pathways for our talents is an important priority for the Government under the National Arts Council’s Our SG Arts Plan 2023 – 2027.

Support such as NAC’s Arts Scholarships, capability development programmes and international residency opportunities will develop artists across the emerging, mid-career and established stages.

Singapore’s first arts university, the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) has also been formed by an alliance between LASALLE College of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). This will strengthen the diverse talent pool from the arts and creative sectors in Singapore.

Let me now say a few words in Mandarin.

林子平老先生，可以说是新加坡的一位国宝级人物。

他在新加坡经历二战之后，

那一段动荡年代，投身教育界，

为培养我们建国的生力军，

作出了宝贵的贡献。

林先生在60岁离开教育界后，退而不休，成为全职画家。

林先生对我国的历史和文化十分热忱。

他通过画笔，不仅为新加坡保存了一份份珍贵的记忆，

也为我们的艺术生态增添了许多色彩。

林先生即使在获得国家和国际殊荣后，

还不断地寻求突破、精益求精，

充分体现了“活到老，学到老”的精神，

是我们晚辈，还有年轻一代国人的楷模。

林先生，感谢您对新加坡所作出的贡献！

I would like to conclude by thanking the patrons, sponsors and supporters of the arts, especially those who have joined us today.

Your contributions will leave a lasting legacy for future generations of Singaporean artists and practitioners.

These contributions reflect our collective vision, and our shared belief, that the arts enrich and uplift our lives.

So whether you have donated a personal art piece, or have made a cash or in-kind contribution, a big thank you.

On that note, let us celebrate Mr Lim Tze Peng’s artistic achievements and his inspiration to all of us.

His journey reminds us that passion, innovation, creativity, and impact know no age. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a luminary in our midst.

I thank National Gallery Singapore for presenting his work for us all to recognise and enjoy. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Mr Lim Tze Peng’s legacy continues to inspire and uplift.

Thank you.