A decade after crafting a paper flower hongbao box for her 2014 wedding, Koh Pei Li now designs massive floral installations displayed at prominent sites like Gardens by the Bay and various retail outlets in Singapore.
Starting Small and Building a Passion
Koh began styling weddings for friends as a side project while working in chemical sales. She named her venture 8Dec, combining her birthdate with ‘Dec’ for decor. In 2016, she left her corporate role to focus on raising her first daughter, handling wedding projects during nap times. Her second daughter arrived two years later.
During the 2020 pandemic, Koh shared her chemistry-inspired craft activities with her children on Instagram. Friends soon requested DIY kits and lessons, leading to her first in-home craft class in December 2020.
Launching PeiPer Arts School
By 2022, Koh rebranded to PeiPer, a play on her name and paper medium, and established PeiPer Arts School. With 30 to 40 children attending weekly sessions at home, the demand outgrew the space. ‘We felt we couldn’t continue at that pace from our home,’ the 41-year-old artist recalls. ‘I saw the potential as there was so much passion and demand for it.’
Her husband, Symond Lim, an engineer by training, quit his procurement job to join the business. Their complementary skills—his knack for numbers and detail-oriented eye—strengthen the partnership. ‘I appreciate beautiful objects, as you can see,’ Lim says, glancing affectionately at his wife.
Scaling Up to Public Installations
Koh’s shift to large-scale paper flower projects started with a 2023 Chinese New Year commission from Millenia Walk for 30 atrium flowers. Using recycled wedding rentals, she found the sustainable approach rewarding. ‘It was very meaningful,’ she notes. ‘I was excited but terrified at the same time as it was my first large-scale project. I was so honoured as it was in a public space where people could admire my flowers.’
Subsequent works include pieces for Paragon, Changi Chapel and Museum, Gardens by the Bay, Changi Airport, InterContinental Singapore, and brands like Manolo Blahnik, Chopard, Cortina Watch, Pedro, and Charles & Keith.
Two standout projects tested her limits: the 2024 Carnival of Flowers at Gardens by the Bay, her most demanding endeavor, and the 2880 Pleats Christmas tree at The Singapore Edition, crafted from repurposed bed linens to match the hotel’s aesthetic.
Collaborations with horticulturists inspire her deeply. ‘It was such a great honour to work with horticulturists and to have my larger-than-life plants in Gardens by the Bay, surrounded by real flowers,’ she says. At Changi Airport, she replicated the bougainvillea in paper for low-light offices.
Creative Process and Inspirations
Koh draws from real flowers, starting with paper prototypes before scaling up using aluminum, foam, organza, fur, sand, and more. She always asks clients: ‘What’s the story you want to tell behind the art piece?’
For the Asian Civilisations Museum’s installation on Cavenagh Bridge through October 2026, she studied artifacts, incorporating batik techniques into her designs. Paper remains her favorite material, though aluminum suits outdoor durability, as in her Paragon piece.
Her parents fueled her creativity: her carpenter father built home furniture, and her seamstress mother crafted clothes and kueh. ‘They never told me this was art but it influenced me when I was growing up,’ Koh reflects.
Passing on Creativity and Personal Benefits
At PeiPer Arts School in New Bahru, children aged four to 12 craft with everyday materials like carton boxes, starting lessons with storytelling—all in Mandarin to promote bilingualism. Koh speaks Mandarin at home, while Lim uses English with their daughters, now 10 and seven.
‘Art has helped my girls stay imaginative and expressive; they’re rarely bored at home because they’re always creating,’ she says. ‘In a world where artificial intelligence is everywhere, hands-on craft is more important than ever; it builds skills and instincts that technology can’t replicate.’
Art bolsters her resilience: ‘It toughens my mind and I get to deal with different materials and different sensory elements. I find it therapeutic, even when working under very stressful deadlines and doing repetitive tasks.’
Balancing Family and Business
Working with her spouse brings challenges, like post-work business discussions. ‘After a long day in the studio, I just want to go home and watch TV but then Symond starts business talk,’ Koh laughs. ‘I don’t think it ever stops but we’ve learnt to deal with it,’ Lim adds. ‘The great thing is that we’re not two artists or two business persons; we have very different strengths so we trust each other.’
Upcoming projects include works for private collectors, Cortina Watch, a potential overseas commission, and plans for a second school outlet in eastern Singapore. Koh aims for her art to evoke ‘love and joy—and a moment of pause.’ She treasures watching visitors’ reactions: ‘the ‘wow’ expression, then breaking into a smile.’
