JOIN USArtists, photographers and friends of M F Husain paid a unique tribute to the late painter on his 97th birth anniversary on September 17.
An exhibition of photographs clicked by them portraying his strong personality, life and times is currently on at Jamia’s gallery - also named after the legendary painter.
‘Imaging A Legend’, organised jointly by Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) and Jamia Millia Islamia University, has been curated by Niyatee Shinde and Fawzan Husain.
The exhibition at M F Husain Gallery at Jamia will remain open till September 24.
Contributors of images include internationally renowned photographers like Raghu Rai, Atul Kasbekar, Farzana Contractor, Pablo Bartholomew, Atul Dodiya, Ram Rahman and Pritish Nandy. According to curators, the exhibit is conceptualised to pay tribute to Husain’s legendary and celebrated presence on the Indian art scene.
“This exhibition is a tribute to his irreplaceable persona and includes his immense contribution to the Indian art scene. It was also very overwhelming to see the huge number of students who came for the exhibition.
The exhibition conveys the spirit of the man yet marred with controversies. This show is a resistance to all those who tried to hamper him,” said Ram Rahman, the celebrated photographer.
Always nattily dressed, dramatically poised in contemplative moods whether reading a newspaper or sketching for autograph hunters or merely sipping tea, the photographs reflect every aspect of Husain’s life.
The images are taken are primarily by photo-journalists on assignment but also include pictures by artists and admirers and friends, fans and followers, gallery owners and collectors and in addition include a ‘photo-shoot’ at a studio.
For most part these are not images that were made for exhibition or gallery display.
While some were published in newsprint complementing written stories, there are many photographs which have come from encounters with the artist in locations spread all over the world at his different abodes and never seen before.
The exhibition is in any case a must watch for Husain’s admirers but is also important for those interested in getting a sneak peek into his life - hitherto unknown.