Art Attack: DAG celebrates the legacy of India’s foremost modernist, encapsulating the breadth and depth of M F Husain’s illustrious career

Following the prelude Master Maqbool in Mumbai in 2022, DAG is pleased to announce the opening of Husain: The Timeless Modernist, an exhibition that celebrates the legacy of India’s foremost modernist, Maqbool Fida Husain. Spanning almost six decades of his practice across the key themes that dominated his work, 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.

Opening on 26 October 2024 at DAG, New Delhi, it brings together 116 works including depictions of women as mythological, historical and everyday beings; his fascination with horses—rooted in childhood experiences and observations of India’s culturally diverse practices; drawings and paintings that explore the idea of nationhood; and portraits and self-portraits that reflect his larger-than-life social persona. In an effort to decode as well as pay tribute to the master, Husain: The Timeless Modernist highlights Husain’s dynamism and versatility as an artist who embraced all forms of art, including cinema.

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It features works ranging from toys and sculptures to acrylic sheets used as props for his film sets, a rare edition of photographs taken in Madras titled “Culture of the Streets”, and, of course, his distinctive paintings from different periods of his practice. Archival material in the exhibition include his poetry manuscripts from the late 1950s, which attest to his engagement with language and poetry, as well as exhibition invitations, photographs, and preparatory drawings.

Speaking on the exhibition, Ashish Anand, CEO of DAG, 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. Husain’s larger-than-life persona was matched by the deep relationships he formed throughout his career. His approachability and accessibility made him a much-loved figure, not just among art connoisseurs but also the common man—all of whom shared an interest in his life as much as in his art. His eccentricities—such as walking barefoot, live painting performances at classical concerts, his practice of painting in homes he visited, hotels he stayed at, restaurants he ate in—added to his unique and charismatic personality. This persona, perhaps a conscious construct, complemented his iconic art. However, despite his profound contributions to Indian art and culture, he faced significant adversity towards the end of his life. Persistent threats from political entities forced him into self-exile, and he yearned to return to his homeland. DAG has been waiting a long time to dedicate a comprehensive exhibition to the legendary Husain and with this we have honoured our pledge. ”

The accompanying publication brings nuanced perspectives on the artist through essays by scholars and historians. Dr. Rakhee Balaram provides an overview of Husain’s work, exploring the influence of geometry on his dynamic creations, be they his depictions of women, gods and goddesses, life in a village or a city, and his iconic horses. Balaram shows how his oeuvre was shaped by his upbringing, the cultural syncretism he observed around him, his constant experimentation with material choices. Dr. Sumathi Ramaswamy focusses on Husain’s works on Mahatma Gandhi, unpacking the artist’s vision of the nation-state, and his reverence for the Mahatma and his nonviolent quest for India’s freedom.

She explores Husain’s secular approach to spirituality, reflecting the philosophies and teachings of various religious traditions of India. Ina Puri adds a personal touch, sharing her relationship with Husain and his connection to her home city, Kolkata. The exhibition has been divided into six sections to better understand Husain, the painter and artist. Idea of a Nation can be seen as Husain’s love letter to the nation, with his paintings serving as a visual translation of Indian history and culture, delving deep into its many layers. Husain captured the nation’s colours, myths, symbols, rhymes and rhythms in expressive lines and cubist forms.

Influenced since his childhood by India’s cultural heritage and religious traditions, such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Ramlila and Muharram processions, as part of his Indian identity. Deciphering Desire looks at women from all walks of life who took on the role of Husain’s muse. Whether it was his late mother draped in a Maharashtrian saree, figures from mythology, those drawn from his interest in Gupta and Khajuraho sculptures, public figures like Mother Teresa, or movie stars like Madhuri Dixit—he saw them all converging into a symphony of artistic inspiration and awe.

In Freedom of Form, his Poetry Manuscripts, which also include his line drawings—written in the 1950s in Bombay and London—are a testament to the power of his words and lines. Cinema, too, was a significant part of Husain’s life. From starting his artistic journey painting Bollywood billboards in Bombay to making award-winning documentaries and popular feature films, Husain’s art was steeped in the language of cinema. Equine Elegance shows how horses captured Husain’s imagination from a young age—whether the farrier whose workshop he frequented, the papier- mache Duldul of Muharram processions he witnessed as a child, the paintings of Chinese masters Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong, his lifelong fascination was an ode to their grace and power in paintings depicting their boundless energy and fluid movements. In Conversations and Connections, Husain’s exploration of portraiture is a testimonial to his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether well-recognised national icons or in the form of the personal connections he developed with his patrons.

Alongside, his self-portraits mirrored his complex identity as an artist—deeply rooted in Indian tradition yet constantly exploring new forms of expression—and served as a visual diary, documenting the various emotional and creative phases of his life. Monochrome Musings looks at Husain’s line drawings and monochromatic sketches, reflecting his spontaneity and versatility as an artist. He was known for creating quick sketches on any available surface that was at hand, from restaurant tabletops, napkins, to margins of newspapers, capturing moments, people and places with immediacy and fluidity.