Print by globally-renowned Singapore-born artist on offer at Asia House Auction

Left: Kim Lim, 'Black Wash', 1993, Lithograph, 55 x 55 cm, Courtesy of the Estate of Kim Lim. Right: Kim Lim in the studio, 1960

Left: Kim Lim, 'Black Wash', 1993, Lithograph, 55 x 55 cm, Courtesy of the Estate of Kim Lim. Right: Kim Lim in the studio, 1960

Print by globally-renowned Singapore-born artist on offer at Asia House Auction

16 May 2016

By Lucy Tomlinson

Kim Lim (1936-97) was a British sculptor and printmaker of Singaporean birth, who developed a strong reputation worldwide over her long career.

She spent much of her early childhood in Penang and Malacca in Malaysia, moving back to Singapore to attend school. She left Singapore at 18 to pursue her dream of becoming an artist, attending Saint Martin’s School of Art in London where she spent her first two years concentrating on wood-carving (1954-1956). She transferred to the Slade School of Fine Art from 1956-1960 to study printmaking, where she was taught by the etcher Anthony Gross and lithographer Stanley Jones. In 1960, she married the painter and sculptor William Turnbull, settling in London but continuing to travel widely.

Kim Lim’s earlier print work explores modulations of blocks and lines with her later print work, from the 1980s onwards, encapsulating more natural forms, taking inspiration from the visual culture of civilisations including ancient Greece and ancient China. Her work, print and sculpture, evoke the elements alongside her exploration of basic rhythmic forms and structures.

On offer at the Asia House Benefit Auction, which commenced online on 7 June is Black Wash (1993), a lithograph on paper that has been kindly donated by the Estate of Kim Lim for the auction. Currently held in the Tate collection, it was presented in memory of Cecily Lowenthal by the Tate Guides through the Contemporary Art Society in 1999.

Lim’s work has exhibited all over the world and is held in many public collections including the Arts Council of Great Britain; Contemporary Art Society, London; National Museum of Art, Singapore; Nagaoka Museum of Modern Art, Japan; Tate Gallery, London and Liverpool and Middelheim Museum, Belgium.

Lim has held solo exhibitions at galleries including Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield; Museum of Modern Art, Oxford; Tate Gallery, London and New Arts Centre, Roche Court, Wiltshire.

To bid for the piece on Paddle8 click here.

This charity auction is being held to celebrate 20 years since Asia House was founded in 1996 and to raise funds for its ongoing programme of events.

It commenced online on paddle8.com on 7 June. A preview of the auction works will take place in the Asia House Gallery from 14 to 21 June between 10.00 and 18.00.

The Asia House Benefit Auction has been organised in association with online collecting destination Paddle8 and is supported by K Pak Ltd Fine Art Specialists.

The 25 + artworks on offer have been generously donated by artists and galleries from across Asia, as well as those who have a strong links to the region, and includes artworks by artists who have exhibited at Asia House in the recent past.

A champagne reception and dinner with the theme ‘white gold’ will take place on June 21 at Asia House during which there will be a live auction. Please email mariam.neza@asiahouse.co.uk if you’d be interested in attending.

lucy.tomlinson@asiahouse.co.uk

To place bids for items in the auction click here. Online bidding closes at 17.00 BST on Monday 21 June.

For more information about the Asia House Benefit Auction and the other artworks that can be bid for click here.

For more information about any aspect of the auction email Mariam.Neza@asiahouse.co.uk.

If you would like to support us, please consider making a donation towards the Asia House arts and learning programme below. We accept donations by credit card, debit card and PayPal.