1989 UOB Painting Of the Year - Singapore
Artist: Lim Tiong Ghee, (b.1955, Singapore)
Title: From The Turtledove
Medium: Collage on Wood Panel
Size (cm): 125.0 x 189.0 cm
Mr Lim is known for his allegorical paintings in which the main protagonists are man and woman. The title of this particular collage, From the Turtledove, is borrowed from the ancient Chinese text, The Classics of Poetry. The collage reflects the feelings of expectant joy and apprehension of a young woman on the threshold of adult life. She is featured with a pair of turtle doves – the traditional symbol of devoted love and affection. Mr Lim uses colour sparingly and only as an accent, organising space and forms with intuition and sensitivity to achieve visual harmony.
Mr Lim is a self-taught artist whose works embody a poetic, lyrical quality typically featuring Asian motifs and references. He was a graphic artist at the former Singapore Broadcasting Corporation before pursuing art full-time. He has developed a reputation for his collage and mixed media works, winning several art prizes and accolades.