Old art gets a new lease of life

With more people here collecting art, there is a growing demand for conservators with the skills to breathe new life into old works

The team at YH Conservation (above) touching up artwork for display. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
The conservation house also restored a painting by Singapore artist Cheong Soo Pieng (above) for Hwa Chong Institution’s centenary celebrations earlier this year. PHOTOS: YH CONSERVATION
Painter Ong Kim Seng (above) with his 1983 painting Heart Of Kathmandu, Nepal, which won him his first award from the American Watercolor Society. The painting was restored by Mr Chandrahasa Bhat. PHOTO: BENAKA ART CONSERVATION
Benaka Art Conservation’s Mr Chandrahasa Bhat with painter Chua Mia Tee. Behind them is a painting by Chua which Mr Bhat had restored. PHOTO: BENAKA ART CONSERVATION
Ong Sor Fern
Senior Culture Correspondent
Updated
Dec 31, 2019, 01:10 PM
Published
Dec 31, 2019, 05:00 AM
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A 19th-century oil painting torn by a cat's paws. A work by a Singapore master on decaying masonite board, smudged with bug droppings and dead insects. Oil and watercolour works discoloured by fungus and ageing varnish.

All these issues have been confronted and fixed by art conservation businesses Benaka Art Conservation and YH Conservation.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 31, 2019, with the headline Old art gets a new lease of life. Subscribe

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