Lim Nang Seng (1917 - 17 November 1987) was a Singaporean sculptor. He sculpted the Merlion statue in Merlion Park.
Lim was born in 1917 in Kuching, Sarawak. [1] Lim originally worked as a schoolteacher. [2] Sculpting initially began as a hobby of his, which he later turned into his career. [3] In 1967, Lim held the first sculpture show in Singapore with five other sculptors, and designed the 1967 Singapore coin collection. [1] Prior to 1971, he had spent two weeks in a carpark along Orchard Road sculpting Dancing Girl, a sculpture, which was then installed at the Seng Poh Garden in Tiong Bahru. [3] [4] The sculpture received mixed reception from the local residents, as some thought it was too abstract or too closely resembled a swan. However, Lim was not upset by this, as he believed that swans were prosperous animals. [5] In 1970, he won three prizes in a handicraft and design exhibition. [6] In 1971, Lim began hosting sculpting lessons, teaching women how to sculpt. [7]
In 1971, Lim was selected to sculpt the Merlion statue in the Merlion Park along the Singapore River. [1] [8] Work on the sculpture began on November 1971 and ended in August 1972, and involved all eight of his children. [9] In 1975, Lim was among several local artists whose work was presented in China by S. Rajaratnam. [10]
However, Lim did not want his children to follow in his footsteps, as he did not earn much money from sculpting. [11]
On 17 November 1987, during the Merlion Week, while working on clay figurines, Lim fainted and was admitted into the Singapore General Hospital. [1] [12] At the hospital, Lim underwent surgery, which was unsuccessful, and died at 5.55pm. [3] [13]