Since 2022, the National Art Gallery (NAG) in Kuala Lumpur has welcomed visitors to the Art Hospital and repository, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the laboratories and facilities where ageing and damaged artworks are carefully conserved.
Now, NAG has brought conservation into the public eye with "Conservation in Action", an open studio approach allowing visitors to witness the restoration process firsthand daily until March 15. Running at Gallery 2A as part of the Recent Acquisition: A Decade Of The National Collection 2015–2025 exhibition, conservation takes place from 9.30am to noon and 2.30pm to 4pm.
During these hours, visitors observe not artists but “doctors” taking samples, running tests, and using specialised tools to breathe new life into faded works.
The selected work for this public series is Imitation Master – Legacy (BSN2025.006(H) by Penang-born painter Ali Nurazmal Yusoff, who is known for his large-scale works, which draw inspiration from Caravaggio while giving his dramatic imagery a fresh, unexpected twist.
“Art Hospital procedures require all works selected for exhibition to first be inspected in the conservation laboratory. Conservators prepare a condition report to detect deterioration and determine appropriate treatment based on the work’s condition and exhibition purpose,” says Tan Hui Koon, Chief Curator of Collections and Conservation.
For this pop-up exhibit, Tan and her team showcase tools like soft-bristled brushes, museum-grade HEPA vacuums, and gentle solvents, demonstrating the careful cleaning and care involved in conservation.
“This painting (from Ali) is ideal for conservation education due to its large visual impact and ‘fresh’ condition, it has received no prior treatment since being gifted to the National Art Gallery,” says Tan.
Even paintings stored in controlled environments can lose vibrancy over time due to light, dust, and humidity fluctuations. Without proper care, colours and details gradually fade, altering the artist’s original intent.
Through this initiative, says Tan, the Art Hospital’s role in caring for and preserving the nation’s visual arts is reinforced, making conservation both visible and accessible to the public.
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