The late Singaporean artist Lim Mu Hue was renowned for his skilful and intricate woodcut prints. Trained in Western painting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 1952 to 1955, Lim was mentored by the founding principal of the Academy, Lim Hak Tai and pioneer artists like Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi and Chen Chong Swee. He was pivotal in developing woodcuts in Singapore’s art history during the 1950s and 1960s.
Concerned about the declining art of woodcuts in Singapore, Lim has experimented with woodcuts since 1954. Lim had devoted much of his time to creating a body of woodcut prints. He drew inspiration from his surroundings and everyday life. Like numerous local artists of his generation, Lim was keen to develop art styles unique to Singapore. In the artwork, Lim intentionally depicts localised elements, such as the wild boar, a native animal of Singapore, feeding on the local tropical fruit, durian and sweet potatoes. Lim employed negative and positive space to accentuate the details and textures of the print.
