BD 琵琶行并序 - 白居易 (Ode to a Lady's Pipa Play with an Introduction by Bai Ju Yi)
Ink on Paper, 102 x 105 cm
About the artwork
“Pi Pa Xing” is a renown piece by Tang Dynasty Poet Bai Ju Yi and a part of a longer “Yue Fu” Poem. This poem expresses the poet’s sympathy towards the Pi Pa player through describing her playing skills and unfortunate encounters with corrupted officials, citizens who live in distress, and other societal problems that were prominent then. He expresses his frustration towards the condemnation of the innocent through his poetry. This piece was then reproduced by Artist Lim Tze Peng who never fails to put his own feelings and a unique touch to every piece of his calligraphy works. This work reads: 忽闻水上琵琶声 、主人忘归客不发。寻声暗问弹者谁 、琵琶声停欲语迟。
About the artist
Born in Singapore in 1921, Lim Tze Peng is one of Singapore’s most significant artists and a living legend. Renowned for his Chinese ink creations of post-independence Singapore, he also practices Chinese calligraphy. Alongside local and international exhibitions, his masterpieces are exhibited in prominent Singapore institutions and part of many prestigious collections. Lim has been bestowed several awards including the Special Prize at the Commonwealth Art Exhibition in England in 1977 and the prestigious Cultural Medallion in Singapore in 2003. In May 2012, he broke records with the sale of his works at a Christies auction in Hong Kong.