MF Husain: Portrait of the Artist

Be it glimpses of him as an eight-year-old,or a lean,bearded figure dabbing his paintbrush on the palette,MF Husain’s multifaceted personality has always caught the imagination of many a photographer in the country. Now,an exhibition titled “Imaging a Legend”,which is curated by Mumbai-based Niyatee Shinde and Fawzan Husain,will open today at Jamia Millia Islamia,to coincide with the legend’s 97th birth anniversary.

“Husain has been photographed extensively compared to any other artist,which is very interesting,” says Delhi-based photographer Parthiv Shah,who has helped in bringing the exhibition to the city after its first show at Mumbai’s Tao Arts Gallery in June. A collaborative effort by Sahmat and Jamia Millia Islamia,photographers from all across the country have come together for the show. These include well-known names such as Atul Dodiya,Ram Rahman,Riyas Komu,Raghu Rai,Pablo Bartholomew and Atul Kasbekar,along with 40 others. The show has been conceptualised by Fawzan Husain who felt that MF Husain’s versatile personality has to be brought out. While his first picture,as an eight-year-old,has been sourced from archives,the last photograph (post his death) was taken by Delhi-based Bartholomew.

“Imaging a Legend” is on till September 24 at MF Husain Gallery,Jamia Millia Islamia.