MF Husain's Untitled (Gram Yatra), a 13-panel masterpiece from the 1950s, has been sold at a Christie's auction in New York for USD 13.8 million, setting a new record for the most expensive work of modern Indian art. The sale nearly doubles the previous record held by Amrita Sher-Gil's "The Story Teller." "Gram Yatra," meaning "village pilgrimage," is considered a cornerstone of Husain's oeuvre, celebrating the diversity of independent India. The painting was acquired by a doctor in Delhi in 1954 and later bequeathed to Oslo University Hospital. The proceeds of the sale will support the training of future doctors at the institution.
A Delhi court refused to order an FIR on a complaint alleging that two paintings by late artist M F Husain hurt religious sentiments, stating that no further investigation was required. The court, however, issued notice to the Delhi Art Gallery for a complaint case hearing on February 12. The paintings, featuring Hindu deities Hanuman and Ganesh, were seized by the police earlier this month following the complaint. The complainant, advocate Amita Sachdeva, argued that the paintings insulted the revered deities and constituted obscenity.
The painter criticises many of Bollywood's best and brightest.
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Kapoor told the ED that he was told by the then petroleum minister Murli Deora that the refusal to buy the MF Husain painting will not only prevent him from building a relationship with the Gandhi family but also prevent him from getting the Padma Bhushan award.
Shah Rukh Khan posed and artist Maqbool Fida Hussain painted at Bonhams, London. The painting was called "Art For Freedom".
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Leading artists on Thursday welcomed the conferment of Qatar nationality on M F Husain, who has been living in self-imposed exile abroad for nearly four years following a spate of legal cases in the country over his controversial paintings of Hindu goddesses. "That's a great honour for him," painter Anjoli Ila Menon said, describing 95-year-old Husain as a "true Karma Yogi".
Maqbool Fida Hussain, who rose from a Bollywood billboard artist to India's most celebrated painter worldwide, died in London on Thursday, away from home on a self-imposed exile.
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Fine arts auction house Christie's on Thursday sold artist MF Husain's paintings, including one for a hammer price of $ 1.4 million. Outside the Christie's building in New York, up to 30 supporters of the Indian American Intellectual Forum staged a two-hour protest chanting 'Shame, shame, MF Husain' and 'Boycott Christie's!'. At least 12 of Husain's paintings were auctioned, where the theme was South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art.
Works of art by Indian artist M F Husain, who has been living in exile for the past five years, have been taken off from the ongoing Indian Art Summit following threats from various groups.
His remarks came days after Home Ministry sources in New Delhi said cases filed against Husain across the country over his controversial paintings should be brought to a logical end and that the Centre was contemplating moving the Supreme Court for their expeditious disposal to ensure his early return.
MF Husain's biographer and artist Akhilesh Singh reveals to rediff.com's Abhishek Mande fascinating aspects of the legend's personality.
To those accustomed to MF Husain's unpredictable appearances and disappearances over the years, his sudden comings and goings, there is a finality in the hand-written scrawl he issued, with his trademark horse appended, on being offered nationality in Qatar. It's unlikely that he'll be coming home now. And why should he? He's 95, not only very famous but fabulously rich and surrounded by many of his children and grandchildren who are comfortably settled in the Emirates.
He does not remember exactly when he had met Husain for the first time, but does say it was in the 1940s in Mumbai. Rediff.com's Sahim Salim talks to Syed Haider Raza, probably the only other Indian artist who can match MF Husain's work, in terms of price.
Various film industry veterans pay condolences to the legendary artist.
The cinematographer-turned-director has quite two projects lined up.
Painter MF Husain passed into the ages on Thursday. And messages mourning his demise are pouring in from around the world. Rediff.com spoke to eminent artists about their memories of Husain. Here's what they had to say.
In June 2008, journalist Sadanand Menon parsed the Delhi high court ruling on MF Husain's art, and said, 'No modern judgment pertaining to artistic freedom has ever quoted an artist or has been so categorical.' On Husain's passing away, we reproduce the article
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Ranjita Ganesan and Nikita Puri chronicle the journey of Abhishek Poddar, one of India's leading art patrons.
Rediff.com reproduces the 1997 feature about Laxman, his passion for crows, and of course, his genius.
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