VISUAL artist Ahmad Fuad Osman has disputed National Art Gallery’s narrative of events that resulted in his four artworks being removed from an ongoing exhibition for allegedly being political and obscene.

He said although he was informed of the possibility of removal, the gallery however, did not meet with him or with the curator for the exhibition.

“But in its statement, the NAG said we had discussed the matter, giving an impression that I had agreed for my paintings to be removed.

“I had never agreed for my paintings to be removed from the exhibition,” he said in a Facebook posting.

He also said NAG’s statement differed from the explanation it gave him.

“In a letter to me, the NAG said the decision to remove the painting was due to a complaint from a board member. But in their statement, the gallery said it had received complaints from the public, and the decision to remove the paintings was a collective decision of its board,” he said.

He questioned the gallery’s standard operating procedure in removing artworks from an exhibition.

“Certainly the NAG can’t just remove the artworks without any discussions. I want to know what process was undertaken before my paintings were removed.

“How did the NAG arrive at its conclusion that these works were political and obscene when compared to others?”

He also said the NAG must hold a series of talks and a public forum to discuss these issues openly.

Apart from demanding an explanation from the gallery, Fuad had previously also asked for the exhibition to be closed.

On February 4, the gallery removed four artworks by Fuad after a board member alleged that the pieces were political and obscene.

The four artworks were part of an exhibition titled At The End Of The Day Even Art Is Not Important (1990-2019) that started on October 28. It ends on February 28.

The gallery had defended the removal, saying it was done according to its standard operating procedure.

It added it has the right to remove any work “that touches the dignity of any individuals, religion, politics, race, culture, and the country”.

“An exhibition is a continuous process and not a final product, and even if the exhibition is ongoing, this process (of deciding) will continue to obtain suitable maturity of patrons and our society,” said gallery managing director Amerruddin Ahmad.

Fuad has received support from more than 400 Malaysian artists and art lovers who had signed an open letter to the gallery.

Earlier today PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, when asked to comment on the matter, said the government “must be more tolerant”. – February 12, 2020.