Renate Kant brings to South East Asia her 30 years of experience in the field of conservation. She was trained as a conservator and restorer at the Berlin State Museums and at the Hessisches Landesmuseum in Darmstadt.
She consolidated her wide knowledge with studies in Art History and Archeology in Berlin and Cologne. In Germany, Ms. Kant established herself with a freelance Studio for Conservation and Restoration and belonged among the most sought after specialists for painting conservation.
For 25 years she directed this studio with 15 co-workers and trained in conservation and restoration techniques in Germany and abroad.
She is a member of the German Restorers Association (DRV).

INDONESIA

In 1995, Founder Renate Kant was invited by the German government and the Goethe Institute-Jakarta to restore four paintings by the famous German painter Walter Spies hanging in the presidential palace as a present to Indonesia for their 50th anniversary of independence as a nation. Because Spies painted primarily in Bali, the restoration was done in Bali in conjunction with the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) in Ubud. As an integral part of the process of restoration, Ms Kant gave a week-long workshop in basic conservation techniques at ARMA for Balinese painters, curators and museum assistants, offering her professional skills which were nowhere else available for the participants.

Due to the success of this project, Indonesian private collectors, museum curators and gallery owners approached Ms Kant for conservation and restoration work on their collections. For the next three years, numerous paintings were sent to the studio in Germany to be restored, and Ms Kant and co-workers travelled 2-3 times each year to Jakarta and Bali to do additional intensive restoration work.
In the course of the centuries, Indonesia artists have created unique works, a national cultural heritage which must be protected and maintained. The father of Indonesia painting is considered to be Raden Saleh, a Javanese prince’s son. In the 19th century, this talented artist combined European painting techniques with the traditional motifs of his homeland.

Works of Raden Saleh were restored, including the Portrait of a Chinese Gentleman. Through a detailed examination extended by cross-sections and binding analysis, considerable damage was discovered: large overpainted areas, tears in the canvas, layers of paint flaking off, destruction through transportation and climate. For the restoration process, first the canvas was strengthened and the chipped layers of paint were consolidated. Then all areas which had been unprofessionally painted over and which had distorted the original were removed. Finally, tears and holes were bonded and the portrait was completed through a long retouching process.

After the restoration, the Asian Portrait showed the dignified status of the subject once again. With its accentuated use of the brush and its rich nuances of color and tinted varnish layers, Raden Saleh’s painting reveals great artistic virtuosity.

As her interest in Southeast Asian art and culture increased, the studio moved from Germany to Southeast Asia in 1998. Numerous works by Indonesian painters such as Raden Saleh, Hendra Gunawan, Affandi, Nyoman Gunarsa, Made Wianta, S. Sudjojono, Tarmizi and Kerton, plus foreign artists who painted largely in Bali: A. Le Mayeur, Walter Spies and Donald Friend were conserved.

SINGAPORE

Christie’s International Singapore invited Renate Kant in 1998 to give a slide lecture on conservation and restoration. After this lecture there was a huge interest in the specialised knowledge and professional conservation services which could be offered to the Singapore arts and cultural scene. With recommendations and support from the Singapore Tourism Board, the National Heritage Board and Christie’s, the new studio for Conservation and Restoration - Renate Kant Pte Ltd in 1999 was established.
The clients include the Singapore Art Museum, the National University of Singapore Museums - Lee Kong Chian Art Museum, auction houses, galleries such as Gajah Gallery, Indigo Blue Gallery, Soobin Gallery and Opera Gallery as well as numerous private collectors and art lovers. In addition, the studio has worked on a conservation of a mural by Chen Wen Hsi through the National Heritage Board. Well-known Singaporean artists restored include Liu Kang, Lai Foong Moi, Georgette Chen and Cheong Soo Pieng (National University of Singapore Museum's Collection).

In 2007, the studio changed its name to Renate Kant Asia Pte Ltd to reflect the broad outreach and a new owner and in 2009 to the present name Renate Kant studio for conservation and restoration, a division of Pin Point Consultants Pte Ltd.

PHILIPPINES

The Lopez Museum and Foundation has sent paintings of their national artists, including Carlos Francisco, to the Singapore Studio for restoration, as has the Ayala Museum, which sent paintings of Fernando Zobel. Additional Philippine artists restored include Anita Mangsaysay-Ho, Gala Ocampo and Amorsolo. In February 2002, Renate Kant presented her slide lecture, ”Every Good Painting Cracks”, for the general public at the Ayala Museum in Makati City, Manila.

MALAYSIA

There was a strong increase in the expertise and services of Ms Kant by Malaysian institutions in the year 2000. In July Renate Kant gave her slide lecture presentation to a full house at the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. The studio has also restored paintings and served as a consultant for the Valentine Willie Fine Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, the collection of Electricity Board and for the Bank Negara collection.
The scope of work in Malaysia goes beyond Kuala Lumpur. Works have been restored for the Istana collection in Johor Bahru and for collectors in Penang.

HONGKONG

In 2005, the studio began a cooperation with Schoeni Gallery, Hongkong and gave a talk followed by consultations with many interested collectors. Since then, numerous journeys and care of private collections followed.