KUALA LUMPUR: The National Art Gallery reopened on Tuesday (June 21) after having been closed for two years since August 2020 for upgrading and renovation.

       Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the upgrading and renovation project with an allocation of RM4 million channelled by the ministry was fully completed last March.

       She said the upgrading project involving the gallery space and the main roof with the concept of 'Gajah Menyusu' still retained its identity to upholding traditional art in a contemporary context.

       "In conjunction with the reopening of all the galleries, the National Art Gallery is bringing the 'NUSA' Exhibition, the National Visual Arts Permanent Collection exhibition. This exhibition involves five galleries, namely the Reka, Tun Razak, 2A, 2B and 3B.

       "A total of 466 works are exhibited that highlight historical narratives and myths, questions and searches of identity, ideas and suggestions that resulted in the formation of Southeast representations that want to be featured in this exhibition through the National Collection," she told a press conference after reopening the galleries here.

       Nancy also informed that the ‘NUSA’ Exhibition will be held for three years and the curatorial team of the National Art Gallery is ready with the rotation of works in the exhibition space to increase the access of the collection to the public.

       In another development, she said the Ministry encouraged more local art activists especially sculptors, to showcase their artwork in public hotspots. - Bernama