Arts Picks: Lim Tze Peng posthumous show, exhibition of three artist couples, drone poem display

SG60: The Timeless Lim Tze Peng

The

death of Singapore art giant Lim Tze Peng at 103

on Feb 3 was mourned by those in and out of the art world. His Chinese ink scenes of old Chinatown and the Singapore River, as well as his distinct calligraphic idiom hutuzi, or “muddled writing”, are easily recalled by many – such has been his impact despite his relatively late claim to fame.

Now, one of Lim’s most important collectors, Mr Melvin Poh, has opened his first posthumous exhibition titled SG60: The Timeless Lim Tze Peng at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, with the help of artcommune gallery.

More than 80 paintings and calligraphy works by Lim, completed between the 1960s and a few months before his death, are on display.

They trace his artistic milestones, including the transition from his Kampong scenes in the 1970s to his Singapore River scenes in the 1980s, and on to his themes from the 2000s such as trees and muddled calligraphy.

Mr Poh, one of the pioneer artist’s biggest collectors with over 100 pieces of Lim’s works, says he was intentional about accumulating works representative of Lim’s evolution, including the largest Singapore River piece ever accomplished by the artist. It was completed in 2006 when Lim was already an octogenarian.

The 53-year-old founder of home-grown property developer Fission Group and Woodlands Memorial adds: “It’s a rare opportunity to see 60 years of works all in an exhibition. They present a good variety and will promote greater understanding of this wonderful artist.”

Complementing these are about 20 Chinese ink pieces, also from Mr Poh’s personal collection, by renowned Chinese masters like Qi Baishi, Wu Guanzhong and Xu Beihong, some of whom frequented Singapore in its early nation-building years.

Where: ArtSpace@Helutrans, 01-05, 39 Keppel Road
MRT: Tanjong Pagar
When: Till March 9, noon to 7pm daily; English guided tours on March 2 and 9, 3.30 to 4.30pm; Chinese guided tour on March 8, 3.30 to 4.30pm
Admission: Free
Info: 

str.sg/AkZw

Reflection 3

Located in MacPherson, Maya Gallery’s first exhibition of 2025 presents works by three artist couples. They are Fazelah Abas and Dino Hafian; Suriani Suratman and Heiko Schulze; and gallery co-founders Masturah Sha’ari and Jeffrey Wandly.

Masturah says this juxtaposition allows for reflection on the dynamics between partners and how they influence and mirror each other.

For instance, Suriani’s installation, Sebarkan!, is made of nearly 1,000 ceramic pieces, while her husband Schulze’s kinetic sculptures, Sail!, are made of driftwood.

Both incorporate movement through time. Suriani’s scattered roundels are like offerings – a tribute to her late father, Malay-language literary pioneer Suratman Markasan – but also seeds, knowledge he has left that hopefully will flower in time.

Schulze’s sculptures move with air currents. This time, the fragments are strung together, reflecting the displacement, adaptation and transformation unavoidable in human lives.

Where: Maya Gallery, 05-00, 57 Genting Lane
MRT: Potong Pasir
When: Till April 12, noon to 6pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays)
Admission: Free
Info:

www.mayagallery.com.sg

Dance Of The Fireflies

The Fu Hup Thong Fook Tak Kung Friendly Association has commissioned a multidisciplinary artwork integrating poetry, music and drones titled Dance Of The Fireflies, conceptualised by Dr Lim Chye Hong, former head of programmes at the Singapore Art Museum.

This is part of the temple association’s 75th anniversary celebrations in Jalan Besar, a three-day affair that also features more traditional heritage art forms like dragon and lion dances and Cantonese opera by renowned artistes from Hong Kong.

Dance Of The Fireflies will see drones take flight to original scores by Chen Zhangyi and Likie Low, performed by Low, with spoken word voiced by actress Nora Samosir from a new poem by Yeow Kai Chai.

The aerial display is inspired by the fireflies that once populated Singapore kampungs and the recent discovery of Luciola singapura, a newly identified Singapore species.

Yeow says: “All you need is the open-mindedness to reach out and harness one another’s gifts. How words, music, human voice and the spectacle of drones in flight come together so seamlessly is a marvel to behold.”

Chen, associate professor of National University of Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, adds: “It was pure serendipity how this project came together. I was very much inspired by Yeow Kai Chai’s Twin Cinema poetry and, through him, got connected to Chye Hong. The stars were aligned.”

Twin Cinema is a poetic form written in two discrete columns which can be read individually and together. This is a poetic form invented in Singapore by Yeow, whose first such work, Begone Dull Care, was published in 2010.

Where: Tentage at Jalan Bahagia, opposite Block 34
MRT: Toa Payoh/Boon Keng
When: March 2, 8.30pm
Admission: Free
Info: 

str.sg/Gk6M