Known as the King of Apples, Lim Kim Hai's talent for painting still life is evident as he succeeds in capturing the freshness and glossy appeal of the fruit. The artist created a realistic depiction of rounded forms and masses of the apples in exquisite colours. His signature close-up observations of apples are further enhanced by the carefully studied light effects, shadows and space.
Lim Kim Hai has won several major awards including the Golden Award in the Salon des Artistes Francais, Paris 1982; Silver Award in the Salon Internationale Du Val D'Or, France 1984; Salon de Mantes La Jolie, France, Rotary Club Award 1986; Prix Henri Lehmann – Peinture from Institut de France, Academy des Beaux 1986; Golden and Public Awards from 52e Salon des Beaux Arts, Enghien-les-Bains, France 1987. He was educated at the Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux Arts, Paris, France (1975-1980) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore (1970-1972). After residing in Paris for 17 years, he made a grand return to Malaysia in a solo at the Galeri Maybank in 1992, when his works were price-tagged in the five digits. He also had solos in Singapore, France, Russia, Jordan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand. His latest exhibition Boundless: The Art of Kim Hai Lim was held at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore in 2018. Lim Kim Hai's E-solo Harmony was held by Vallette Gallery in 2020.