KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 23 -- Inside the quiet, temperature-controlled galleries of the National Art Gallery or Balai Seni Negara, decades-old paintings hang in stillness.

Visitors, including younger Malaysians, move slowly from one artwork to another, taking their time to absorb the stories on the walls,unaware of the meticulous work happening behind the scenes to keep these pieces alive for future generations.

Each piece on display carries layers of history,not just in its imagery, but in the way it's preserved, interpreted and presented.

For the gallery, exhibitions are more than a showcase of aesthetics; they are narratives that reflect Malaysia's social, cultural and political moments.

"It's not just about aesthetics alone," National ...