Self-taught artist Lim Tze Peng is one of Singapore’s most prominent artists. His artworks do not adhere to the traditions of Western painting nor Chinese calligraphy. Instead, he adopts different aspects of art forms that appeal to him and, by doing so, envisions creating artworks that are universal. 

Lim is an avid traveller who enjoys painting en plein air. In the summer of 2000, he embarked on a two-month residency in Paris and explored the French capital with his paintbrushes in hand. Each day, as he observed the sights and sounds of the city, he captured his observations and experiences by painting. At the end of his residency, he painted over 60 works showcasing the city’s beauty. Out of these works, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts is honoured to receive 45 paintings as a personal donation by Lim – the largest contribution by an artist to the NAFA collection.

NAFA owned studios at Cité Internationale des Arts, situated in Montmartre. Lim stayed in that space during his residency in Paris and presented a penchant for painting the surrounding environment. Employing a low vantage point and a unique perspective, Lim evokes the effect of buildings towering over the streets of Montmartre. People, painted in varied colours and brushstrokes, attest to the heterogenous spirit of Paris as they come and go from different walks of life.