POWER, endurance and elegance - these embody the thoroughbreds which Lim
Ah Cheng paints. Chinese warriors and scholars have eulogised the
practicality and beauty of the noble steed since the Sung dynasty. Since
then, its form and substance have been sung by artists off all
persuasions. That tradition, and evolution, carries on in Lim's
expressionist works on horses.

Having initially painted horses in their natural form in 1995, Lim has

progressed throughout the years with self-assurance, spontaneity and joy

to work as an abstract and semi-abstract artist. He paints with intuition

- in bursts of energy and colours which harmonise, whether it be with a

small painting measuring a foot wide or a larger canvas.

A fleeting glance at a fetching blue horse, only a foot in length, draws

the viewer to its noble, yet, sensitive qualities. Emboldened by the sheer

force of nature, this little steed rears up to take on the world, and its

larger, less forceful brothers. His charcoal-toned cousin, with specks of

burgundy on its sides, stands closer still, captured in time and infinite

space.

Other steeds with their individual qualities also stand apart but,

together, a group of horses typify "the heroic grandeur and panoramic

wildness of the open plain", giving one the feeling of "encompassing the

universe".

The Sun Zi Series 1999 reveals the spiritual balance of the horses,

rendered with the use of Chinese calligraphy and seals which better convey

the depth and soul of his paintings. This series, in the invocation of

East and West principles of art also provoke conversations and musings

about their form and substance.

Despite experimenting with landscape, watercolours, charcoal etc, Lim

keeps returning to his first love - to portray horses in a contemporary

manner. By dispensing with the physical mane, eyes and musculature, Lim

draws out the spiritual aspect of his subjects in Challenging Horses, a

Heartbeat series inspired by Chinese ink painting, to show their energy,

mobility and power in oil.

Horses have always been his passion. The earlier Millennium series were

wrought in more vibrant shades, while the Sun Zhi series allowed him to

experiment with antique carvings and calligraphy which at times have

almost equal importance with the painting itself.

Lim moved on to the music series in January 2004 because of his

fascination with rhythm, by bringing "movement" into his subjects. These,

in contrast, draw viewers into a dreamworld, ethereal and warm.

Thankfully for Lim, his parents were supportive of his vocation, more so

when he won a scholarship from the Malaysia Institute of Art in 1998. He

grew from strength to strength, dabbling in and focusing on what brings

him joy and contentment.

Nature is his muse, particularly the beaches. He is very much taken with

Southeast Asia and aspires to visit Angkor Wat and other fascinating

places. Meanwhile, he keeps busy giving art classes too.

Lim has held two solo exhibitions - Challenging Horses 1996-2002 at Elle

Six Art Gallery, Malaysia in 2002 and Melody in Harmony, Dynasties Antique

and Art Gallery, Singapore. He exhibits his works nationally on a regular

basis and has forayed into the international scene since 2001. The most

recent were the Asean-Japan Art Exhibition 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand,

Korea New Art Festival in Korea and Oriental Spirit 2, The Heritage Club,

Echo Gallery in Bangkok.

Lim can be contacted at 012-669 0222 or via chenglim98@yahoo.com