Ahmad Fuad Osman's artworks may be reinstated

The National Visual Arts Development Board (NVADB) is expected to hold a meeting tomorrow to consider reinstating visual artist Ahmad Fuad Osman's artworks which were removed from an exhibition.

This was confirmed by the Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik to Malaysiakini.

"They (NVADB) will have another meeting to review the reinstatement of Ahmad Fuad Osman's artworks tomorrow," he said.

Earlier today, a letter purportedly from Bakhtiar to the NVADB chairperson Rashidi Hasbullah had leaked online.

It was shared by a landscape architect Ng Sek San via his Facebook account.

Among others, the letter urges NVADB board of directors to consider reinstalling the four artworks at the exhibition titled At The End of The Day Art is not Important (1990-2019) and issue a letter of apology to Ahmad Fuad immediately.

The letter also stated that the exhibition has been held for the past three months without any complaint and incident and that the reasons to remove the four artworks were unclear and inconsistent.

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

National Arts Gallery director-general Amerruddin Ahmad had explained that the gallery had found some of Fuad’s work needed additional “guidance, explanation and a high level of art-knowledge” to avoid being “misunderstood”.

Meanwhile, when contacted today, Amerruddin confirmed that the meeting will take place but declined to comment on whether they are reconsidering to reinstate Ahmad Fuad's artworks.

"I can't comment further as the matter is still under decision and we have yet to come to a conclusion," he said.

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