Journalism of Courage
India’s art fraternity on losing a legend
Wed been good friends for the past 60 years but were not in touch recently. He had led a long,full life and had celebrated his 95th birthday. The quality of his work was remarkable. We both come from the same background,and I know for a fact that he was deeply attached to his country. He had to let go of his motherland because of the complexities created by
a painting,rather than the people. It is sad
that he did not breathe his last here.
SH Raza,artist
He had as many weaknesses as strengths,but the world ignored the weaknesses because of weight of his strength. The demise of men like MF Husain does not create a vacuum,as they leave an attitude not a style. Husain infused new blood into old veins. The way he dressed in early years was so outlandish,that it was difficult to walk with him in public. He of course enjoyed it,as it drew enormous attention. As to his work,he did his best till the 1970s. What followed was repetition.
Satish Gujral,artist
I remember how he retained childlike
enthusiasm about little things. A few years ago,we visited him in Dubai and he showed us his new Land Rover like an excited teenager. He was always restless and that was reflected in his paintings.
Jogen Chowdhury,artist
Husains seven decades of creativity is in many ways a story of how Indian art got uploaded onto the public consciousness in India,especially the first two decades after independence. It is through his practice that the public began to recognise the figure of the modern artist. My last meeting with Husain was in a hotel in London. He said that he had turned one of the rooms in the hotel into a studio. He embraced us,there was no sense of exile and there was pure energy,
Jitish Kallat,artist
MF Husain was a restless experimentalist. He also reacted sensitively to political turmoils and introduced symbols of love and peace the works on Mother Teresa falls into this genre. Husain loved to work on an epic scale with strong lines and vigorous brushwork using bright colours. He was a prolific artist who strove hard to evolve a personal language through any medium that he experimented with painting,film,new media and poetry.
Rajeev Lochan,director of NGMAMF Husain was a restless experimentalist. He also reacted sensitively to political turmoils and introduced symbols of love and peace the works on Mother Teresa falls into this genre. Husain loved to work on an epic scale with strong lines and vigorous brushwork using bright colours. He was a prolific artist who strove hard to evolve a personal language through any medium that he experimented with painting,film,new media and poetry.
Rajeev Lochan,director of NGMA
On both fronts professional and personal its a big loss. He was a friend and a mentor. Its tragic that the country did not accept him. What a legacy he has left behind. He inspired me to build my own gallery designed the logo and the gallery too. I spoke to him in April and he wanted me to spend a day with him in Dubai and I told him I would visit him. Who knew this would happen?
Renu Modi,gallerist
