The Commissioner, Dr.R.Kannan, being a Doctorate in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) believes in a Participatory Approach to planning and implementation; and further planning based on feedback. The out come of discussions among the Curators concerned, the Commissioner of Museums, the young Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department and lighting engineers from Multi National companies paved the way to introduce Fibre Optic lighting and Dichroic Halogen lamps in place of the conventional fluorescent tube lights in the Contemporary Art Gallery and the National Art Gallery. The conventional lighting created damage to the artefacts. This is the first Indian museum wherein this technology was introduced in 2000-2001. The Raja Ravi Varma oil paintings, which are declared by the Government of India as National Treasures, were lit with fibre optic lighting. Fibre optic lighting emits neither heat nor harmful Infra Red and Ultra Violet radiation. It highlights the display of Raja Ravi Varma paintings dramatically. This was a first for Indian museums at that time.

The Contemporary Art Gallery was established in the year 1984 and is devoted to the paintings of the contemporary artists of India especially of Tamil Nadu like Padma Bhushan Devi Prasad Roy Chaudhury etc. The building is purely contemporary and was constructed to suit the landscape. The gallery had broad daylight directly entering the building from the Atrium, the ventilators and from the front. This design gave excess light and reflection on the paintings. Though this design is energy saving, it is not considered suitable for the display of paintings, as it is not in tune with the modern display technology developed in the West, which emphasis aesthetics and conservation. Also it damages paintings due to excess light and heat. The large ventilator running throughout as an apron also let in direct sunlight and heat. Originally there was light up to 100,000 lux or more in some parts of the gallery and illumination by the spot lamps added to this. Therefore Dr. R. Kannan, Commissioner of Museums decided to improve the lighting in the Contemporary Art Gallery. The glass on the ventilator running as an apron was painted black to cut off the daylight. It was decided to have Track lighting with Dichroic Halogen lamps to bring the display of paintings to modern standards. This enables to have the right level of illumination i.e. (30 - 70 or 100 lux). The temperature is also appropriate to the preservation of paintings. This was done in 2000-2001 and was a first for Indian museums at that time.