M.F. Husain’s demise this year has been a great loss to the art circuit. However, his contribution to Indian art can never be forgotten, believes the art fraternity which on the artist’s 96th birth anniversary today, are paying rich tributes to him.
Husain’s physical absence has never been a deterrent for SAHMAT, which made special arrangements to celebrate his birthdays while he was in exile. This time too they’ve planned a day full of activities. Along with Jamia Millia Islamia, SAHMAT will be releasing its 2012 calendar celebrating Husain with photographs by Parthiv Shah, followed by a painting competition and presentations on Husain by Geeta Kapur, S. Kalidas, Ram Rahman and others.
Photographer Parthiv Shah who captured some of the interesting moments of Husain’s life from 1992, says, “The photographs are very special to me as Husain sahab personally invited me to join him on some of his trips to Nizamuddin. He asked me to shoot his first major show at the NGMA. In the last week of his show, I requested him to come along with me and talk about some of the paintings and directed him to pose with his paintings so I could click him. It was great fun. At times, he added his own touch and asked me to shoot.”
Dhoomimal City Gallery is holding a month-long exhibition of serigraphs by Husain titled, “The Master’s Court”. Pallav Jain, director of the gallery, says that his father had this collection personally signed by the artist. “We want Husain’s work to reach the masses. Serigraphs aren’t as expensive as paintings, hence, many who want to own a Husain can afford it,” he says.
For artist Vijender Sharma, it’s going to be a tribute to the teacher he’s grown up admiring. He is exhibiting his portrait of Husain, not for sale but as a remembrance. He recalls his meeting with Husain at the Modern Art Gallery in 1993 and says, “He told me that he has never seen such a detailed work in painting till now.” Vijender says even after many requests he has never sold it, neither does he ever wish to.