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.

River Seine is the largest river in France. In Paris, this water body divides the city into the Left (Rive Gauche) and Right (Rive Droite) Banks. At specific points, several bridges connect the two parts of the city together. Bridge over River Seine portrays one of such bridges. Lim’s brushstrokes of different tonal variations bring dimensions to the work and makes a clear distinction of the bridge in the foreground and buildings in the background. With thin and delicate lines, the artist accentuates the textures of the bridge and therefore embraces the architectural magnificence of monument. Wu presents a perspective that not only reveals the beauty of the city, but also reveals the artist’s curious and receptive spirit as he experiences Paris.