CELEBRATING M.F. HUSAIN'S FASCINATING ARTISTIC LEGACY

As India's foremost modernist artist, Maqbool Fida Husain's illustrious career marked a seminal moment in modern Indian art.

- NOOR ANAND CHAWLA

To celebrate this, DAG has launched a new exhibition titled 'Husain: The Timeless Modernist', on the heels of their Mumbai presentation 'Master Maqbool' in 2022.

This new exhibit celebrates Husain's six-decade-long practice across varied themes.

"Husain: The Timeless Modernist' features a collection that translates every phase of Husain's artistic journey from the 1950s to the 2000s and reflects on his everlasting impact on the world of art," explains Ashish Anand, CEO and MD of DAG. The exhibition opened on 26 October at DAG, New Delhi with 116 works on display. "We have included depictions of women as mythological, historical and everyday beings; focussed on his fascination with horses - rooted in childhood experiences and observations of India's culturally diverse practices; as well as drawings and paintings that explore the idea of nationhood; and portraits and self-portraits that reflect his larger-than life social persona." Anand adds, "In an effort to decode as well as pay tribute to the master, 'Husain: The Timeless Modernist' highlights Husain's dyna mism and versatility as an artist who embraced all forms of art, including cinema." Hence, the works on display range from toys and sculptures to acrylic sheets used as props for his film sets. There are also rare editions of photographs taken in Madras titled 'Culture of the Streets' apart from paintings from different periods of his practice. Shining a light on other aspects of his personality are archival materials like his poetry manuscripts from the late 1950s, exhibition invitations and preparatory drawings.

Anand notes, "There is not much I can say about M. F. Husain that hasn't already been said. A true and everlasting icon, he needs no further laudatory words.