Nelson Lim is a Singapore-based ceramic artist whose work explores the intersection of ancient craftsmanship and the ever-proliferating and evolving impact of the Industrial Revolution on production, society, and our relationship with art.
In his Construction of Memories series, Lim uses metal wire—a byproduct of mass production—dipped in porcelain slip, an ancient material, to create intricate, large-scale sculptures that display geometric splendor while contemplating the complexity and foundation of human memory. Lim reflects, “Like a [building] construction, these memories stack upon one another, growing and evolving over time. As the years pass, many events may fade from our conscious mind, yet if we were to extract and isolate these memories, the resulting artwork would take on an entirely different form.”
Though Lim has mastered his technical understanding of materials through extensive tests and experiments, his works occasionally collapse due to slight temperature variations. This fragility underscores the vulnerability of human consciousness and our precarious position in the current technological revolution.
Lim pays homage to traditional craftsmanship, emphasizing the significance of preserving the tactile, hands-on experience of working with clay, while resisting the convenience and efficiency offered by modern technological tools. He challenges viewers to reflect: “Can an ancient material encompass the very material that sparked a movement that threatens to replace it? Can we truly control the environments in which we live? If not, do we, like the structures in my work, melt and collapse under the weight of external forces?”
Lim holds a degree from Curtin University of Technology and earned his Master’s degree at Tainan National University of the Arts. He is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, and his works are part of the collections at the Yingge Ceramics Museum, the Korea Ceramics Foundation, and the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre in Singapore.
Visit Nelson Lim Sang Choon's website for more information: CLICK HERE
