Lim Hak Tai
Encyclopedia
Lim Hak Tai was one of Singapore's pioneer artist at the turn of the 20th century, and was the person who inspired the Nanyang School of art form, to reflect the 'Nanyang' (South-east Asia) region, both in painting style and subject matter.
Born in Xiamen
, Fujian Province in China, Lim graduated from the Provincial Art Teacher's Training College in Fuzhou in 1916, and went on to the Amoy Art Teacher's College specialising in Western and Chinese art. He came to Singapore at the outbreak of Sino-Japan War in 1937, and taught art at The Chinese High School
and Nan Chiau Girls High School (now Nan Chiau High School
) for a year. In 1938, he was appointed as the first principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
.
Lim was a dedicated art educator and an accomplished painter in Singapore, and have taught many art students - some on to becoming accomplished Singaporean artists. He was also the first to articulate the notion of a 'Nanyang style' art that involved local and South-east Asian tropical representations using Western painting techniques. As such, Lim persuaded his peers Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi
, Chen Chong Swee and Liu Kang to seek inspiration from their Balinese excursion in 1953, developing what is known today as the Nanyang School of Painting.
Lim was conferred with the Pingat Jasa Gemilang
(Meritorious Award) for his outstanding achievements for the Academy, and the society on 3 June 1962. He was the first artist to be conferred the award by the Singapore Government. Lim died on 14 February 1963 due to lung cancer.
Born in Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
, Fujian Province in China, Lim graduated from the Provincial Art Teacher's Training College in Fuzhou in 1916, and went on to the Amoy Art Teacher's College specialising in Western and Chinese art. He came to Singapore at the outbreak of Sino-Japan War in 1937, and taught art at The Chinese High School
The Chinese High School
The Chinese High School , formerly Singapore Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School was an independent school in Singapore offering secondary education. The school was founded by Tan Kah Kee on 21 March 1919 and it merged with Hwa Chong Junior College on 1 January 2005 to form Hwa Chong Institution...
and Nan Chiau Girls High School (now Nan Chiau High School
Nan Chiau High School
Nan Chiau High School is a secondary school in Singapore. It was founded as Nan Chiau Teachers' Training School in 1941 by Tan Kah Kee. Its first campus was built on a plot of land donated by Lee Kong Chian, at Kim Yam Road in River Valley. In 1947 the school became Nan Chiau Girls' High School. In...
) for a year. In 1938, he was appointed as the first principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts is one of the oldest and most established tertiary arts institution in Singapore....
.
Lim was a dedicated art educator and an accomplished painter in Singapore, and have taught many art students - some on to becoming accomplished Singaporean artists. He was also the first to articulate the notion of a 'Nanyang style' art that involved local and South-east Asian tropical representations using Western painting techniques. As such, Lim persuaded his peers Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi
Chen Wen Hsi
Chen Wen Hsi , is one of Singapore's pioneer artists, known for his avant-garde Chinese paintings.He was born in Baigong in Guangdong province, and had his early education at Chen Li Primary School and St...
, Chen Chong Swee and Liu Kang to seek inspiration from their Balinese excursion in 1953, developing what is known today as the Nanyang School of Painting.
Lim was conferred with the Pingat Jasa Gemilang
Pingat Jasa Gemilang
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang , instituted in Singapore in 1962. The Medal may be awarded to any person who has performed service of conspicuous merit characterised by resource and devotion to duty, including long service marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct within Singapore...
(Meritorious Award) for his outstanding achievements for the Academy, and the society on 3 June 1962. He was the first artist to be conferred the award by the Singapore Government. Lim died on 14 February 1963 due to lung cancer.
Further reading
- History of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
- NAFA Alumni Association
- Pameran retrospektif pelukis-pelukis Nanyang : Muzium Seni Negara Malaysia 26hb. Okt. - 23hb. Dis. 1979 (Nanyang artists retrospective exhibition : National Arts Museum of Malaysia 26th Oct. - 23rd. December 1979)(art catalogue)
See also
- Chen Chong SweeChen Chong SweeChen Chong Swee is a Singaporean watercolourist belonging to the pioneer generation of artists espousing the Nanyang-styled painting unique to Singapore, at the turn of the 20th century...
- Cheong Soo PiengCheong Soo PiengCheong Soo Pieng was a Singaporean artist who was a pioneer of the Nanyang art style, and a driving force to the development of Modernism in visual art in the early 20th-century Singapore...
- Liu KangLiu Kang (artist)Liu Kang was a Singaporean artist famous for his Balinese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, and was credited with developing the Nanyang style....
- Georgette ChenGeorgette ChenGeorgette Chen, born Chang Li Ying is a Singapore painter known for her Post-Impressionistic styled oil paintings at the turn of the 20th-century. She was a forerunner of the visual arts in Singapore, who contributed to the birth of the Nanyang art style in Singapore.Chen was born the fourth of 12...