Sim Pang Liang沈板亮 (1940- )

Sim Pang Liang is a prominent second-generation Singaporean artist known for his work as a Chinese calligrapher, painting in a way that is grounded in the traditional with a Western modernist outlook. He graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1961 where he understudied pioneer artists Chen Chong Swee and Cheong Soo Pieng.  In 1956, Sim joined the newly formed Modern Art Society (Singapore), adopting the group’s ethos of challenging traditional boundaries to create art that is relevant to the people and times. This period led to an exploration of various media, including oil, collage and metal relief before he refocused his efforts in the 1980s to Chinese ink painting and calligraphy with renewed interest.

His later works reflect a reimagination of Chinese ink painting traditions through an innovative process of simplifying visual forms, capturing the essence of the everyday. Often leaning toward rustic and nostalgic themes, the stylistic approach is significant, for it mediates between heritage, tradition and familial values through a visual vocabulary that is distinctly iconic and recognisable.

Sim has won competitions and awards in calligraphy and painting locally and overseas including Dr Tan Tsze Chor Chinese Ink Painting Competition (Singapore), Okazaki OAC Art Exhibition (Japan) and World Calligraphy Itinerant Grand Exhibition (Korea). His works are collected by numerous public and private institutions, locally and internationally.