History of the Collection
As one of India’s most prominent collectors, Abhishek Poddar has acquired an extensive collection of Indian art, photography and textiles over the past three decades, which forms the nucleus of MAP’s collection.
Conservation
Conservation of artworks is one of MAP’s key objectives, given the increasing loss of significant tangible heritage in the country.
A state-of-the-art conservation lab, set up with the support of Tata Trusts in 2019, occupies a significant place in the museum’s five-storey building. Through our restoration facilities, we hope to conserve and protect the current collection. At the same time, we hope to provide expertise and skills that will contribute to the field of restoration in India.
Preserving India’s Heritage
Over the centuries, south India’s climate, among other factors, has adversely affected several artworks from our collection. Home to a growing collection of 18,000 artworks, MAP acknowledges its responsibility to serve as one of the guardians of India’s great heritage. Currently, MAP’s conservation lab is run by a team of three specialists. In addition to the conservation of the collection, the team will also establish a preventative programme to maintain the collection for future generations.
MAP’s conservation specialists regularly participate in international training programmes and engage with conservators all around the world to remain updated on the latest discoveries and techniques in the field. MAP hopes to establish one of the largest conservation labs in India, through which the museum will also offer conservation services and consultancy to other institutions in the country, actively preserving India’s cultural heritage in every region.
