In Malaysia, the humid tropical climate and intense light exposure pose a silent threat to the longevity of artworks, underscoring the need for sustainable conservation research rooted in local conditions.
Tan Hui Koon, senior chief curator of the Collection and Conservation section at the National Art Gallery, said these environmental factors can significantly affect the material integrity of artworks over time.
“Art objects, like humans, need sunscreen. They have to be protected using tinted glass or museum-standard glass that can effectively reflect ultraviolet (UV) light,” she said at the gallery recently.
Organic materials such as textiles, canvas and wood readily absorb moisture, causing repeated expansion and contraction that can eventually compromise an artwork’s structural integrity and paint layers.
Tan said this highlighted the importance of a preventive approach to conservation, which extends beyond repairing damage to include environmental control, as well as appropriate handling and storage.
“If an artwork is damaged, it is impossible to fully restore it to its original condition once some of its material has been lost. However, we try to restore its material integrity so that the artwork can still be displayed to visitors,” she said.
These challenges will be among the issues explored at the seventh Asia-Pacific Tropical Climate Conservation Art Research Network conference, hosted by the National Art Gallery from Dec 7-9 in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh, Perak.
The conference will bring together conservation experts from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and the Philippines to examine how art materials, particularly Western paintings, respond to tropical climates.
Participants will also visit heritage sites in Lenggong through a special programme organised in collaboration with the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the Department of National Heritage and People of Remarkable Talents.
Tan said this year’s conference would place greater emphasis on local knowledge and intergenerational exchange, including disaster response methods and conservation approaches adapted to the geographical context of individual countries rather than relying solely on Western models.
Other topics will include climate change, disaster management, artificial intelligence, materials research technology and ethics in conservation, alongside efforts to encourage greater resource-sharing among institutions.
Tan said the research network also played an important role in developing the next generation of conservators by facilitating the transfer of knowledge and experience, while highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of conservation, which brings together art, science, research and technology.
She described the conference as a valuable opportunity to trace the development of conservation in Malaysia since the network’s inaugural event in 2008.
“It will also strengthen international networks that have the potential to bring Malaysian expertise and artistic heritage onto the world stage,” she added. – Bernama
