MF Husain: Remembering the master-(Some say--He knew Art of Controversy??)

MF Husain: Remembering the master

Published: Monday, Aug 1, 2011, 13:47 IST

By Sharanya C R | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Artist Gurudas Shenoy (inset) joins other artists to pay respect to MF Hussain, the man who inspired many others like him

If there is one artist that you can proudly call as the Picasso of India, it would our very own late artist MF Hussain. The late artist, who earned fame and wrath for his paintings, left a huge impact, especially among other artists across the country. Be it the iconic horse and woman paintings or those of Mother Teresa, the artist of different strokes was a huge inspiration for many.

Bangalore-based artist Gurudas Shenoy, who has worked closely with the late painter, gave a moving speech at the inaugural function of Kynkyny Art Gallery’s tribute to M F Hussain. The event that saw the coming together of artists across the country pay their respects to the master.

Fondly recollecting the memories shared with him, Gurudas says, “My most memorable days are the times I spent with him in London. I watched him paint every day and our chats during our visits to different museums were incredible. He was so passionate about paintings that even when he sprained his right hand, he started to paint with the left.”

Gurudas also recalls, “Once when he came to India, he listened to Rashid Khan’s music that was being played in my car and loved it. He later called me to say that he was at Rashid’s residence, congratulating him. That’s what I liked about him, there were absolutely no airs.”

In the wake of legal challenges and death threats, the late painter, who was living abroad in a self-imposed exile, did create quite a stir even after his death. “A few days before his death he told me that his whole life isn’t enough to complete his works. He always told me that he had nothing against the country and always considered India to be his strength,” Gurudas says. However, all said and done, Gurudas, along with the other artists present just one request. “We’d like the government to build the finest museum in memory of MF Hussain. They should preserve all his paintings on his home ground,” he signs off.