Culture

Lim Tze Peng in his studio, still trying out new ideas.

The 'late style' of 102-year-old artist Lim Tze Peng

Artist Lim Tze Peng, who turned 102 this year, was born and bred in Singapore. From having a firm grasp of traditional Chinese painting techniques, he continually experimented with different methods, adjusting his style and finding a new path. Writer Teo Han Wue was there to witness the artist’s pivotal change in style some 15 years ago, when the artist was in his 80s. This was when Lim experimented with using bold, cursive-style calligraphic brushstrokes to create near-abstract and completely abstract paintings, with trees as the main subject matter — a style which came to be known as hutuzi (糊涂字, “muddled writing”). Lim’s “late style” continues to evolve, even until today.
Chinese fans attend mainland China's first official fandom event for science-fiction adventure franchise Star Trek, at a shopping mall in Beijing, China, on 9 September 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP)

Hollywood in China: The cycle of boom and bust

Academic Ying Zhu explains why political and diplomatic tensions aside, the business of motion pictures has its own commercial logic so Hollywood and its Chinese counterpart will continue to be locked in a transactional relationship, though more surreptitiously and in a much more low-key fashion.
Gaming fans react as they watch a big screen showing the League of Legends World Championship 2023 final between South Korean's T1 and China's Weibo Gaming, at the Communication University of China in Beijing, China, on 19 November 2023. (Pedro Pardo/AFP)

Youths of today stand at a pivotal moment in history: Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in Beijing

Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung delivered the keynote speech entitled "Youths – Bridge Between East and West, Pivot Between Present and Future" at the Lianhe Zaobao Singapore-China Forum 2023 held in Beijing on 21 November. He spoke about issues affecting the youths of today — whether in China or Singapore — noting that while they have big issues to tackle, they still have much to look forward to in this pivotal moment in history. This is the English version of his keynote address delivered in Mandarin.
People exit a metro station in Taipei, Taiwan, 19 August 2023. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

[Big read] Can older workers solve Taiwan's labour shortage problem?

Given Taiwan’s low birth rate and ageing population, the labour shortage has become a severe issue, especially in the hospitality industry. While the government seems to be keen to open up to migrant workers, this might mean larger issues down the road. So why not open up the opportunities for Taiwan’s middle-aged and elderly? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Chuang Hui Liang speaks with academics and industry insiders to find out more.
A calligrapher at his stall in Chinatown, Singapore. (SPH Media)

What's in a Chinese name?

Hua Language Centre director Chew Wee Kai notes that names carry everything from culture to history, values and identity — and even the trend of the time. So, what’s in a name? Plenty.
The New York City skyline is seen at sunset on 6 September 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Al Bello/AFP)

Will the US collapse amid its ‘culture wars’?

Throughout history, the US has seen a myriad of “culture wars” over various issues that have divided US society. But despite these divisions, the overall effect and climate in the US is still conducive to promoting universal values and general balance.
ChaGee, a Chinese tea brand that set up its first overseas store in Singapore in 2020. (SPH Media)

Chinese brands making waves in Singapore’s saturated beverage market

Several coffee and tea brands from mainland China, such as Heytea, Mixue, ChaGee and Luckin Coffee, have recently entered Singapore and expanded rapidly. In addition to injecting new vitality into the already-diversified local beverage market, these beverage giants have also brought in their innovative technologies in operations, product development and customer experience. Lianhe Zaobao senior features writer Wang Hwee Wen finds out how these digital innovations from Chinese companies will change the local food and beverage scene in Singapore.
Wang Xizhi, known as the Sage of Calligraphy (书圣). (Weibo)

A pilgrimage of the heart: Paying homage to Jin dynasty calligrapher Wang Xizhi

Cultural historian Cheng Pei-kai takes us back to his trip to Shengzhou, Zhejiang, where he visited the gravesite of Jin dynasty calligrapher Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy. In the depths of the lush forest with mountains peeking through, what does it mean to travel the distance to pay respects to an ancestor and honour their virtues?
Boats in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, 2018. (Photo: Candice Chan)

The forgotten memories of those who returned to China after WWII

Post World War II, in the 1950s and 60s, some Chinese returned to China full of hope for new beginnings. When people are young, they are full of dreams, but all too often not all plans and aspirations can be fulfilled in real life, muses Hua Language Centre director Chew Wee Kai. The important thing is to keep moving forward from the struggles of those times, even if it means to erase them from memory.