This Singaporean has been drawn nude by thousands.
This Singaporean has been drawn nude by thousands.
For more than two decades, Mr Lim Kim Hian has made a career out of posing nude for generations of artists. “Some call me the legendary Kim,” he added in jest.
"A few years ago, this guy asked me why models like me didn't want to get a full-time job. 'Is it because you have a police record?'" Mr Lim said with a laugh.
Once retrenched and down to his last S$50, Mr Lim found life modelling out of desperation. Though his first experience was very traumatising, Mr Lim grew in skill and knowledge over the years.
Many people may think that nude life modelling is a simple gig, but Mr Lim says it is a job that is largely misunderstood.
At each life drawing session, the veteran model choreographs his poses carefully, tailoring them to match the technical ability of whoever is drawing him. He is either partially clothed or fully nude, depending on the needs of the classes.
"You get numbness, butterflies, pins and needles. Then you don't feel your legs at all and your muscles start to ache," he said, adding that there is no pose where there is no pain.
The 63-year-old has always been as fit as a fiddle, possessing a "Michelangelo's David" build. He explains that it has never just been about looking good for the canvas, but that keeping fit also helps him hold poses for longer.
