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This evocative painting by Lim Tze Peng, Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipient and pioneer artist, captures a fleet of tongkangs (traditional wooden cargo boats) navigating the Singapore River, the historic lifeline of the city. Against the backdrop of Boat Quay, the majestic dome of the Old Supreme Court, and the stately façade of the Parliament House, Lim immortalizes a moment when commerce, heritage, and community converged along the riverbanks.

With his masterful brushwork and expressive use of ink and color wash, Lim conveys not only the dynamic energy of the bustling waterfront but also the monumental role the river played in Singapore’s early development. The warm tones and fluid strokes imbue the scene with nostalgia, reminding us of a bygone era before modernization transformed the landscape.

For collectors and investors, this work stands as a rare and historically significant piece that bridges Singapore’s economic and cultural past. It is a visual testimony of Lim Tze Peng’s genius in preserving the living memory of a nation through art.