HUSAINS HUNDRED
On the occasion off MF Husain’s birth centenary, 100 off his most sought- after artworks will be showcased by The Art Trust, Mumbai
An oft debated notion in the Indian and international art circles is whether a work by Maqbool Fida Husain is merely an investment option or an antiquitarian’s invaluable treasure. The artist—whose Battle of Ganga and Jamuna: Mahabharata 12’ fetched £ 1.4 million in 2008, a world record at Christie’s South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale—is a staple on the list of any collector of consequence. Inspired by the cultural and religious narrative of the country that revered and exiled him, his long-running oeuvre resulted in 25,000 majestic pieces, all corresponding to different periods of his life and nuanced aesthetic growth. Showcasing an array of wide-ranging artworks from his collection, Mumbai’s The Art Trust is holding an exhibition to commemorate the birth centenary year of the artist. “We first approached his daughter, Raisa Husain, who was the first to contribute his lesser showcased paintings; and then the private collectors and society figures for the most coveted ones. It took us up to six months, since most of his recent works are with international collectors, who weren’t willing to part with them,” says Tushar Sethi, director of The Art Trust.
Some of the most coveted works on view will include the British Raj, Sitar, Raag Mala, Tribal, and the acclaimed Horse series. While some of the pieces will be on sale, the rest will be displayed in a museum that his family intends to construct as a homage. The grand scale of the auction-cum-exhibition is only testament to fact that a painting by the artist is more than a décor-dream—it is a golden asset. 100 Years of MF Husain will be on view at the Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai, on September 16. For more information, log onto www.thearttrust.com.