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Creative haven for artists at Telok Kurau Studios

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The first time he tried his hand at sculpturing was at home in a kampung as a budding artist in the late 1970s.

To date, veteran artist Lim Leong Seng has created 30 public sculptures and held eight solo exhibitions.

Mr Lim is known for his bold and experimental artworks, which include bronze, steel, Chinese ink, oil and mixed-media collage.

The 67-year-old remembers his kampung home at Island Club Road as a place where he could “create whatever art work or installation I wanted”.

“It was a beautiful place with lots of nature. There was a lot of space, so storage of my work was not a problem,” he said.
However, after moving into a Housing Board flat in 1981, most of his artwork and installations had to be discarded as there was no storage space. 

He returned to painting and put aside his passion for sculpturing.

Then came 1997. That year, Mr Lim was one of 20 artists selected for National Arts Council’s (NAC) Arts Housing Scheme at the former Telok Kurau Primary School. 

The home-grown sculptor credits his move to Telok Kurau Studios as the turning point in his career.

The Arts Housing Scheme was started to provide affordable spaces for artists and art groups to create and exhibit their works. Telok Kurau Studios was the first visual artist centre developed by the NAC.

“The space allowed me to create and experiment with my art. Had I not come here, I wouldn’t be the artist I am today,” he said.

In this episode of Living City, Straits Times Video visits Telok Kurau Studios, home to 26 artists and two art groups.

- THE STRAITS TIMES

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