Lin Huan Shen: My Artwork Needs Restoration—What Should I Do?

On 14 March 2026, Harmoni presented the art talk “My Artwork Needs Restoration! What Should I Do? — A Dialogue Between Conservators and Collectors” at the Wisma Kebudayaan SGM in Malaysia, featuring Associate Professor Lin Huan-Shen from the Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. The lecture attracted more than 100 art enthusiasts, collectors, artists and cultural practitioners to explore the professional principles and practice of cultural heritage conservation.

With decades of experience in the conservation of Chinese paintings and cultural heritage preservation, Lin has contributed to numerous museum conservation projects and is widely recognised for his expertise in traditional mounting artwork conservation and cultural heritage maintenance, Lin centred the lecture on the SGM collection Wang Ke Album of Ink Paintings as restoration case study. Through this case study, he offered audiences a rare glimpse into the careful decision-making that underpins every stage of the conservation process.

Rather than focusing solely on the traditional notion of restoration that seeks to preserve an artwork’s original appearance, Lin encouraged participants to look beyond the treatment itself and consider the broader relationship between conservation and long-term collection care. He emphasised that before engaging a conservator, collectors should first consider how an artwork will be stored, displayed and handled in the years to come. When these conditions have not yet been established, maintaining the artwork in its current state until a suitable preservation environment is prepared may, in some cases, be more beneficial for its long-term safeguarding than proceeding immediately with restoration.

Using the restoration of Wang Ke’s Ink Painting Album as an example, Lin shared how the team assessed the condition of the work and carefully considered whether it should undergo complete structural treatment, be restored to its original album format, or be preserved as individual sheets laid flat. Each approach involved considerations of the artwork’s original state, future display requirements, handling methods and long-term preservation risks. The restoration team therefore sought to balance the preservation of historical traces with the need to ensure the artwork’s future stability. Lin highlighted that the goal of restoration is not to achieve visual perfection, but to arrive at the most appropriate professional decision based on respect for the artwork’s historical value and material qualities.

During the talk, Lin also introduced key principles that guide contemporary conservation practice, including “Minimal Intervention” and “Minimum Treatment”, which have become increasingly recognised in the field of contemporary conservation. He explained the importance of using conservation materials that are both identifiable and reversible whenever possible, enabling future conservators to reassess or refine previous treatments as conservation methods continue to evolve.

During the Q&A session, participants raised questions on topics including colour compensation, traditional mounting techniques, storage methods and the long-term preservation of Chinese paintings. Lin mentioned that many forms of deterioration are caused not by age alone, but by unsuitable storage conditions, such as excessive humidity, inadequate ventilation and the lack of regular inspection. He encouraged collectors to adopt preventive conservation practices through proper storage and routine monitoring, rather than relying solely on restoration after damage has already occurred.

The lecture offered participants a deeper understanding of  conservation as more than a technical process. It is a cultural practice that integrates professional judgement, preservation ethics and long-term planning. Meaningful dialogue between conservators and collectors, together with the adoption of preventive conservation approaches, plays an essential role in safeguarding cultural heritage and sustaining its value for future generations.