Born and raised in Singapore, Lim Poh Teck’s childhood was heavily influenced by Chinese culture and values. After studying at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore, Lim ventured to the University of New South Wales in Australia to obtain his Master of Art (Media Art) and later his PhD from Peking University in China. His experiences abroad impacted his art practice. As such, his works are often drawn from personal reflections of his experiences locally and abroad and his explorations of heritage and culture.
Transformation was inspired by Lim’s memories from childhood. The delicate tree is perched on a fragile styrofoam cube, and, by contrast, a strong metal propellor sits atop the artwork. The tree appears to be negotiating with the propellor lest it gets destroyed by its sharp edges. While a child may view this artwork initially as a toy, with age, one understands the complexity of this work, which reflects the inherent power dynamics in life, or as Lim says, “the game of life”.
