Artist Lim Yew Kuan Died at the National University Hospital on Sunday Evening, After Sustaining a Hip Fracture in a Fall on May 2
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Obituary Cultural Medallion recipient guided the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts through Artist Lim trying times in the 1960s and 1970s Yew Kuan Ong Sor Fern Senior Culture Correspondent ‘truly Artist Lim Yew Kuan died at the National University Hospital on Sunday evening, after sustaining a hip fracture in a fall on May 2. He was 92. The painter and sculptor, a Cultural Medallion recipient, was a believed second-generation Nanyang artist and succeeded his father Lim Hak Tai as the principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa). He shepherded the school through difficult times in the 1960s and 1970s, when financial woes in arts threatened its existence. The school’s alumni raised funds by selling paintings to keep it going. Lim Yew Kuan trained at Nafa and also studied at the Chelsea Institute of Fine Arts in London. Dr Bridget Tracy Tan, 46, direc- tor at the Institute of South-east education’ Asian Arts/Art Galleries at Nafa, paid tribute to Lim’s seminal role as an arts educator. She said: “As an artist and a gentleman, Lim Yew Kuan is one of those rare examples of someone who truly believed in arts educa- tion. His life is a reflection of his value system. “His personal history as an arts educator is synonymous with the history of Nafa in the seminal decades of nation building, national identity and the establish- ing of a strong social bonding for Singapore through the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. Art had a role to play in this developmental PHOTOS: ST FILE, SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM era and Lim Yew Kuan was very much a part of that.” After World War II ended, Lim’s The strength of his Watercolourist and Cultural father reopened Nafa and he Medallion recipient Ong Kim Seng, studied as well as taught at the draughtsmanship and handling 75, remembered Lim as a support- school. of his palette created powerful ive teacher. His social consciousness was re- As a teenager, Ong was part of a flected in his paintings and wood- images not simply of landscapes Sunday painting group with Chen block prints, which captured injus- and figures. His paintings Chong Swee and Lim Cheng Hoe, tices he had witnessed during the who would paint at the Singapore Japanese Occupation and in post- and artworks also offer us River in the 1970s. war Singapore. the experience of being present “Mr Lim was quite encouraging Dr Tan noted: “His practice was and used to look at my very ama- often to travel and to imbibe, to in a time and place. teurish works and also say, ‘good explore sceneries and environ- but need to practise more’. ments around the world and bring “He used to sing classical operas them into his painting. and spoke about his exploits when “The strength of his draughts- DR BRIDGET TRACY TAN, director at the Institute coming back from Britain with manship and handling of his ’’ of South-east Asian Arts/Art Galleries at the Nanyang banned leftist books and being palette created powerful images Academy of Fine Arts, on Lim Yew Kuan’s (above) works, stopped by the immigration and not simply of landscapes and which captured injustices he had witnessed during customs during those early days.” figures. His paintings and artworks the Japanese Occupation and in post-war Singapore, Lim had taken music lessons at also offer us the experience of such as The Night Arrest (left) Nafa and attended vocal and music being present in a time and place.” theory classes at the Guildhall Lim founded the Equator Art School of Music & Drama while Society in 1956, which focused on studying in London. social realist art. Other members and political realities of life in historically significant as the first Mr Lim was quite encouraging Ong said Lim would hang out with included Chua Mia Tee and Ong, Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s. exhibitions acknowledging the artists and Nafa students at a coffee and the society adopted an anti- Despite this, he is often under- importance of woodcut and sculp- and used to look at my very shop near St Thomas Walk and colonial stance while championing acknowledged as an artist.” ture in Singapore.” amateurish works and also say, added: “We have lost a flag bearer of national pride. Dr Seng Yu Jin, 41, deputy direc- For his artistic contributions, social realism and Impressionism.” Mr Jeffrey Say, programme tor (curatorial & research) at the Lim was awarded the Pingat Bakti ‘good but need to practise more’. Lim was born in Xiamen, China, leader, MA Asian Art Histories, at National Gallery Singapore, which Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) and joined his father in Singapore Lasalle College of the Arts, said has five works by Lim on display, in 1980 and the Cultural Medallion at the age of 10 after the Lim’s legacy deserves more atten- said: “Lim advanced the practices in 2011. Sino-Japanese war broke out. tion. of printmaking and sculpture Lim is survived by four children ’’ WATERCOLOURIST ONG KIM SENG on Lim as a supportive His mother died en route in Hong “As an artist, he was extremely through his participation in the from his first marriage, his wife Sue teacher Kong and Lim arrived in Singapore versatile, being able to work with Six-Men Woodcut (1966) and the Cher, 56, and their four children. with his elder brother, two elder painting, sculpture and woodblock Sculpture ’67 (1967) exhibitions. sisters and one younger brother. print. His work depicts the social “These two exhibitions were art [email protected].