MF Husain,by Arpana Caur

In the history of Indian art,he was the only artist who was driven into exile. After his demise last year,I visualised an installation as a tribute to him. It is based on Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar’s words,“Do gaz zameen bhi na mili koo-e-yaar mein”. Husain,too,died outside his home country,one that he loved. The sketch was a blueprint of the installation. It was ideated as a 6.5 x 3.5 feet piece of glass screwed on the ground. A two-feet deep flat pit would have been dug and a cloth would be suspended with three colours in diagonal spray paint with Husain’s black and white portrait in the middle. On each corner,a battery-operated lantern would be placed,since that was one of Husain’s favourite motifs.