Canvas Art Creative, an institution dedicated to preserving visual heritage, proudly presents an exhibition titled "Stories Behind Old Photos (Borneo Edition)." This exhibition, held in conjunction with Malaysia Day, is an initiative to delve deeper into the history and culture of Borneo through 30 meticulously restored historical photos.
Following the success of the "Stories Behind Old Photos" exhibition in January 2023 and the "Rattan Exhibition with the Ukit/Bhuket Community" in September 2023, CANVAS ART continues its dedication to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Through the restoration of old photos, they strive to preserve visual heritage as an essential part of Malaysia’s identity.
Faye Lim, CEO of Canvas Art, stated that this initiative is a manifestation of the company’s long-term commitment to celebrating cultural diversity through photographic art.
The exhibition will run from September 13 to October 7, showcasing 30 restored photos and stories from Sabah and Sarawak. It will be open to the public every day except Sunday, with operating hours from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Visitors can also participate in sharing sessions and workshops held every Saturday at Charlie’s Cafe on September 21, September 28, and October 5. The full schedule can be found on Instagram at Canvas Art (@canvasartmy).
The "Stories Behind Old Photos (Borneo Edition)" exhibition has received positive feedback from participants, who shared testimonials about the significant impact of this visual history preservation initiative.
Sonia Luhong Wan highlighted the importance of Canvas Art’s photo restoration efforts, particularly involving the East Malaysian community. She noted that this project not only contributes to the restoration of old photos but also helps preserve the region’s collective history.
"Canvas Art has a long, established history in restoring photographs. This expertise is not easy to access in East Malaysia (or perhaps even in Malaysia as a whole); by reaching out to the East Malaysian community for this project, Canvas Art is contributing not just to the restoration of photographs, but also, to a degree, the restoration of the collective history of East Malaysia," she said.
Meanwhile, Vera Celestine Mopilin praised Canvas Art for providing a platform for communities to share their stories through photos. For her, this activity opens opportunities for younger generations to understand history from a visual perspective.
"Canvas Art is doing a fantastic job! I didn't even know you could do such an activity. We have an outlet created by Canvas Art to tell our stories and to get generations to listen, see, and experience," she said.
Canvas Art was founded by the late Robert Lim Fung Wang and Chew Mann Lin, and it has contributed to efforts in preserving historical photos, including those of the Malaysian Royal Family, since May 2000. Through this exhibition, CANVAS ART invites the public to reflect on the importance of preserving and caring for the nation’s heritage as an integral part of its history.
