THE National Art Gallery has reinstated Ahmad Fuad Osman’s artworks, which were earlier taken down after the pieces were deemed “obscene” and “political”.

The Malaysian Insight understands the artworks were reinstated at 12.30pm as assured by the gallery earlier today.

The gallery’s objection is to a piece titled Imitating the Mountain, an oil painting showing a man lying naked against a backdrop of mountain ranges.

The other three artworks are Untitled (2012), Dreaming of Being Somebody Afraid of Being Nobody and Mak Bapak Borek, Anak Cucu Cicit Pun Rintik.

Fuad’s exhibition entitled At the End of the Day Art is Not Important showcases his work from 1990-2019.

The exhibition started on October 28, 2019 and was expected to end on January 31. However, it was extended to February 29 on the request of the National Art Gallery.

However, four pieces were removed from the exhibition without the artist’s permission, prompting public outcry and accusations of censorship.

Meanwhile, art collector Richard Koh has resigned from the Visual Arts Development Board in protest of the removal of artworks from Fuad’s exhibition. 

The Malaysian Insight understands that the owner of Richard Koh Fine Art had tendered his resignation after a board meeting on Thursday. – February 16, 2020.