Lim Nang Seng

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Lim Nang Seng (1917 - 17 November 1987) was a Singaporean sculptor. He sculpted the Merlion statue in Merlion Park.

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Biography

Lim was born in 1917 in Kuching, Sarawak. [1] Lim originally worked as a schoolteacher. [2] Sculpting initially began as a hobby of his, which he later turned into his career. [3] In 1967, Lim held the first sculpture show in Singapore with five other sculptors, and designed the 1967 Singapore coin collection. [1] Prior to 1971, he had spent two weeks in a carpark along Orchard Road sculpting Dancing Girl, a sculpture, which was then installed at the Seng Poh Garden in Tiong Bahru. [3] [4] The sculpture received mixed reception from the local residents, as some thought it was too abstract or too closely resembled a swan. However, Lim was not upset by this, as he believed that swans were prosperous animals. [5] In 1970, he won three prizes in a handicraft and design exhibition. [6] In 1971, Lim began hosting sculpting lessons, teaching women how to sculpt. [7]

In 1971, Lim was selected to sculpt the Merlion statue in the Merlion Park along the Singapore River. [1] [8] Work on the sculpture began on November 1971 and ended in August 1972, and involved all eight of his children. [9] In 1975, Lim was among several local artists whose work was presented in China by S. Rajaratnam. [10]

However, Lim did not want his children to follow in his footsteps, as he did not earn much money from sculpting. [11]

Personal life

On 17 November 1987, during the Merlion Week, while working on clay figurines, Lim fainted and was admitted into the Singapore General Hospital. [1] [12] At the hospital, Lim underwent surgery, which was unsuccessful, and died at 5.55pm. [3] [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Merlion sculptor dies after surgery". The Straits Times (Overseas Ed). Singapore. 21 November 1987. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sculptors put on first display in Singapore". The Straits Times . Singapore. 22 April 1967. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Sculptor: Bronze and aluminium reliefs a new cottage industry". The Straits Times . Singapore. 6 February 1971. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Seng Poh Garden & Dancing Girl Sculpture". Roots. National Heritage Board . Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail" (PDF). NHB. National Heritage Board . Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "'Good future for local handicraft'". The Straits Times . Singapore. 30 March 1970. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Wives, armed with hammers and chisels, learn a new art form". The Straits Times . Singapore. 11 May 1971. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "The family that built it". The Straits Times . Singapore. 23 April 2002.
  9. ↑ "A mane event". The Straits Times . Singapore. 9 May 2004.
  10. ↑ "It's an honour, say artists who made it in Peking". The Straits Times . Singapore. 20 March 1975. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "Carve my name in cash?". The Straits Times (Overseas Ed). Singapore. 28 November 1987. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Merlion sculptor dies after operation". The Straits Times . Singapore. 19 November 1987.
  13. ↑ "Majulah Singapura composer, Merlion sculptor die within a day of each other". The Straits Times (Overseas Ed). Singapore. 21 November 1987. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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