THE National Art Gallery has yet to reinstall four artworks by visual artist Ahmad Fuad Osman despite receiving a letter from Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik asking it to reconsider their removal from an ongoing exhibition.

In a leaked letter sent last night to Visual Arts Development Board chairman Rashidi Hasbullah, Bakhtiar had asked the gallery to put the artworks back up and to issue a letter of apology to Fuad.

A visit to the gallery by The Malaysian Insight today found two wall panels at Fuad’s solo exhibition – entitled At The End Of The Day, Even Art Is Not Important (1990-2019) – remaining empty after the paintings there were removed last week.

The four artworks were titled Untitled 2012, Dreaming of Being Somebody Afraid of Being Nobody, Imitating the Mountain 2004 and Mak Bapak Borek, Anak Cucu Cicit Pun Rintik.

The Malaysian Insight understands that the gallery’s board of directors met today over the matter and the gallery’s management may consult an artist group, which includes Fuad.

“Today was the board’s meeting and after that will be the meeting with the artists,” said a source familiar with the development.

The gallery’s managing director Amerruddin Ahmad declined to comment when contacted today. The Malaysian Insight is also awaiting a response from Fuad.

Earlier this month, the gallery removed the four artworks from Fuad’s exhibition after a board member alleged that the pieces were political and obscene.

The exhibition started on October 28 and will end 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 infringes the dignity of any individual, religion, race or culture.

Fuad had demanded an explanation from the gallery and for the exhibition to be closed.

He has received support from more than 400 Malaysian artists and art lovers who had signed an open letter to the gallery. – February 13, 2020.