M F Husain

Maqbool Fida Husain, commonly known as M.F. Husain, was one of the founding artists of the influential Progressive Artists’ Group, (PAG) of India and was the most successful Indian artist who became known not only in his home country but around the world. 

Born in 1915 in Pandharpur, he attended school in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), where he began his painting career. Using freehand drawing and vibrant colors, he depicted Indian themes in a style that is known as Cubism. In 1947, Husain joined the PAG, which aimed at modernizing and promoting Indian art. 

Husain began his career by making a series of Indian civilization paintings. But while his style of painting, and his themes, evolved throughout his life, he said he always aimed at becoming modern each and every day. After a series of portraits, he moved to paint cinema images and billboards for V. Shantaram’s Prabhat studios and New Theatres. He did not stop there: Husain then started designing toys and painted children’s furniture. 

His famous and historic artwork, made in 1975, the “Lightning” painting, was created as a backdrop for the emergency speech of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Mumbai/Bombay. It is a unique painting that stands out for it’s sheer size, forcefulness, power, and energy. It is also one of the most monumental and politically charged works of the artist. The forceful movement of the animals beats the rhythm of the painting: as the horses impetuously go from right to left, they move from darkness to light. The energy that it portrays is uncontrollable.

In 2007, Husain was awarded a series of honors. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Mysore, Jamia Millia Islamia University, and the Benaras Hindu University. (The University of Mysore is the sixth oldest university in India. The Jamia Millia Islamia University is a public central university that was established by Muslim leaders in 1920 prior to the Partition of India. The Banaras Hindu University is a public central university that was established in 1916 and was the first university in India that was established by a private individual’s efforts.)

Husain left India, as he often did, as a wandering soul, because hostilities against him made it impossible to concentrate and focus on his artwork. Husain settled between Dubai, United Arab Emirates and London, England. Although media sources quickly labeled Husain as an exile from his native country, Husain never viewed it as such.

Instead, he became a producer and director of movies. For example in 2000, he directed Gaja Gamini. He also directed Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities, a film which was objected to by Muslim organizations. Through the Eyes of the Painter earned him the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival. Husain stood out from his PAG counterparts because of his deeply rooted “Indianness”; he focused mainly on Indian folk art. According to him, one did not have to paint like Europeans to be modern. 

Husain was conferred Qatar nationality in 2010. While in Qatar, he worked on three major projects; the history of Arab civilization, the history of Indian civilization, and a celebration of the 100th year of Bollywood cinema in 2011. 

He mainly focused on Indian civilization and culture, and despite the criticisms that intensified even to threats to his life, he continued with this work in foreign countries. He did work up to the day that he passed away. His “Indianness” strengthened him and the PAG artistic community because he lived in Bombay for so long. 

Husain died June 9th, 2011, at the age of 95, after being ill for months, at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, England. It was one of the artist’s wishes to be buried where he died. He is buried at Brookwood Cemetery. 

Reference:

The book “Lightning By MF Husain”, 2019