IMG_83116

This evocative painting, rendered in oil with Lim Tze Peng’s early realist sensibility, captures the tranquil essence of rural Malaya — a nostalgic record of Singapore’s kampong era before urban transformation. The composition centers on a traditional Malay house with a thatched roof and red shuttered windows, nestled among tall coconut palms and lush tropical greenery. The light filters gently through the canopy, illuminating the sandy ground and the weathered textures of the wooden walls, evoking the warmth and simplicity of village life.

Executed with meticulous brushwork and layered impasto, the work demonstrates Lim’s deep observation of light, form, and nature. The earthy palette of ochres, greens, and umbers reveals the artist’s sensitivity to natural tones and his admiration for Southeast Asia’s living environment. The interplay of shade and sunlight imbues the scene with both serenity and vitality — qualities that later evolved into Lim’s expressive ink landscapes.

This painting stands as a rare example from Lim Tze Peng’s early period, prior to his famed calligraphic abstraction. It reflects his academic training and his enduring reverence for cultural roots. For collectors, it represents not only a historical document of Singapore’s disappearing kampong scenery but also a significant stage in the artist’s lifelong pursuit of capturing the spirit of place — a vital link between realism and the expressive freedom that would define his later works.