National Art Gallery of Malaysia Reopens Galleries with “NUSA”
By National Art Gallery of Malaysia
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Established in 1958, the National Art Gallery of Malaysia is one of the oldest art museums in Southeast Asia and houses one of the largest collections in the region, totaling over 4,500 pieces of artworks. It has held numerous exhibitions since its inception, featuring selections from its permanent collection and Malaysia’s National Collection, which has been entrusted to the museum. Following its inaugural exhibition in 1960 titled “The Permanent Collection,” the museum has hosted expansive shows, such as “Masterpieces from the National Art Gallery of Malaysia” (2002), “45@45” (2003), “Susurmasa Seni Lukis Malaysia” (2008), and “Pemetaan” (2016).
The National Collection is a large repository of visual information, encompassing all aspects of human endeavour. Built over the last six decades, the Collection has not only developed into a body of knowledge that is uniquely local but one that is characteristically regional as well, given Malaysia’s position in the heart of Southeast Asia, a sprawling region with a long history of migration and home to various Asian cultures. The term “superdiversity” may apply not only to the multi-ethnic population of Malaysia or the peoples of Southeast Asia, but to the aesthetic aspirations found in the works from the National Collection.
The National Art Gallery classifies its collections under artistic expression, narrative, persuasive, ceremonial, and functional, following the National Collection 2020–2030 acquisition policy, which allows it to better manage, evaluate, and further develop its collections. This includes acquisition targets that are deemed necessary to fill the gaps in the timeline in order to fairly represent major developments in the history of national and regional visual arts. Moving forward, the museum is contemplating the best way to share its visual treasure trove with audiences both local and foreign. With limited gallery space, active and effective delivery methods are being explored, together with efforts to provide different and new experiences to the audience.
In 2022, an exhibition titled “NUSA,” meaning motherland in English, will mark the reopening of the National Art Gallery’s main galleries, which have been undergoing a large-scale roof renovation and have been closed to visitors even until the time of this writing. “NUSA” will explore the notion of motherland in relationship with superdiversity in the context of Malaysia and the region, featuring selected works from the National Collection. Curated to provide a captivating new experience to visitors, it will emphasize aspects of relevancy, conservation, interactivity, and digitization.
The selection of works will include masterpieces imbued with the idea of nusa, such as River Pergau State of Kelantan, created in the 19th century by William Samwell; Kampung Nelayan (Fishing Village), a distinguished Chinese brush painting by Chung Chen Sun that was classified as a National Heritage under the National Heritage Act 2005; iconic collections by pioneers like Latiff Mohidin, National Laureate Syed Ahmad Jamal, Redza Piyadasa, Chuah Thean Teng; and the most recent acquisition, a contemporary interpretation of the Enrique de Malacca Memorial Project (2016) by Ahmad Fuad Osman.
