Updates
- Anil, Tina Ambani showcases art collection in London (8 Jun 08)
- HJS protest letter to cancel MFH’s paintings exhibition by HAF and Christie’s (16 May 08)
- HJS visitor send protest letter to reliance and Christies (15 May 80)
- Anti-Hindu M F Hussain’s work to be auctioned in London by ‘Harmony Art Foundation’ (13 May 08)
- Protest MF Hussain’s paintings exhibition by Ambani at Christie’s (7 May 08)
Anil, Tina Ambani showcases art collection in London
London: The Indian art season in London kicked off with a special exhibition showcasing Tina and Anil Ambani’s private collection for the very first time.
For the very first time, Tina and Anil Ambani are showcasing a part of their private art collection at Christie’s in London.
The 3-day exhibition, which opens for the public on Saturday, has 32 works from masters such as Tyeb Mehta, Raza and contemporary names like Atul Dodiya, Jitish Kallat and Riyas Komu.
Tina Ambani says, “Showcasing my collection is generally out of my comfort zone but looking at the larger vision of harmony I think I have a larger responsibility to the art world.”
“Also with prices going so high, people are very scared and apprehensive they think they have to buy expensive work which is a myth. I started collecting at a young age and I wanted to put my story forward,” she added.
While the Ambani’s collection is strictly ‘for viewing only’! there are 12 works from the Harmony Art Foundation, which will be auctioned as part of Christie’s South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art sale next week.
The highlights include works by Francis Newton Souza, HG Arunkumar’s sculptures ‘Toys’ and this unusual work by Subodh Gupta, which has nearly 2 tonnes of steel utencils! The sale is expected to raise about £3.5 million. But, the patron says, it’s not about the money.
Tina Ambani says, “I’ll be very happy if they sell well, but that’s not the idea.”
While the premier Ambani Art show is taking place in London, we hope there will be one in India soon too.
Source: ibnlive.com
HJS protest letter to cancel MFH’s paintings exhibition by HAF and Christie’s
Reg. No. : 1540/I, 12.11.2002
Office : B/12, Bhagirathi-Jagannath Appts., Samantwadi, Uthalsar, Thane (W.) 401601.
website : www.hindujagruti.org
Email : [email protected]
Tel. : 022 – 25478990
To,
M/s Harmony Art Foundation and Chriesties Barcklays Wealth.
Dear Sirs,
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is an NGO engaged in Nation Building , Protection of Dharma, Teaching rightiousness, uniting Hindus etc. We read the news article that you are auctioning paintings of F N Souza,S H Raza, M.F.Husain etc. at chriestie’s ,in London from June 7 to June 10. Thus it is noticed that you are patronizing and glorifying Mr. M F Hussain. We request you not to auction M.F.Huasins paintings due to following reasons.
The whole world is aware that M.F. Husain has drawn nude and obscene paintings of Hindu Deities and Bharatmata. Thus he has hurt religious and National sentiments of crores of Hindus as well as Indians. More than 1,250 police complaints have been lodged against him and lot of court cases are going on against him throughout India. He is absconding from India and not facing Court Trials. He has been accused of outraging relious sentiments, promoting enemity between different religious groups, selling obscene material and disturbing National integrity, thereby committing offences under several sections of the Indian Penal Code. He has also been accused of committing offenses under section 2 of the prevention of Insults to National Honour Act on account of certain paintings of Hindu Deities and naked Bharatmata.Nowhere in India proud Indians allow Husains painting’s exhibitions/auction..
For your information we had protested and were successful to cancel Rupdhar award 2006 which was supposed to begiven by Bombay Art Society on their centanary celebration at the hands of Hon.Governer of Maharashtra Shri.S.M.Krishna to M.F.Husain. For further details of protests and successful campaigns (e.g.cancellation of ABN Amro Bank’s credit card with husain’s painting , cancellation of auction of Husain’s painting by NGO Khushi costing 6 crore rupees in Mumbai, removing Husain’s painting from Tao Art Gallery etc.) against M.F.Husain, please visit website www.hindujagruti.org .
Further please note that millions of proud Indians and Hindus have many investments in your company that only reflects their capacity to invest. However, there are 1000s of thousands who share our opinion and the amount put together makes millions of investment in your company. No intelligent public figure can neglect the public opinion and ire against her/his actions. We hope, you do understand our feelings.
At this stage you are glorifying an accused person by auctioning his painting and hurting National and religious sentiments. No proud Indian throughout world will tolerate your support to antiHindu and antiNational painter M.F.Husain. By doing this you are starting enemity and hatred amongs various religious groups and may lead to Law and order situation for which you will be responsible.
We have full faith in Democracy but at the same time present democratic system will not gloryfy such a accused person who has no courage and respect to comeback to his motherland and jusify his act of creating indecent Art ,which can be equated only with that of infamous Denmark cartoonist who is also hiding himself. There has been news that infamous Denmark cartoonist is looking for someone to arrange auction of infamous cartoons. Your expression and love for artistic freedom can only be justified if you arrange this auction too.
Please acknwledge and inform action taken.
Yours Truly,
S.G.Vatkar
(For Hindu Janajagruti Samiti)
C.C. Hon.Balsaheb Thakre, Shivsenapramukh,
Fax No: 22883535
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
With a request not to allow Bhoruka Charitable Trust to honour Anti-National painter M.F.Husain as explained above.
CC Hon.Chief Minister , Govt. Of Maharashtra.
C.C. Respected PoliceCommissioner,
Fax No. 022-22613552
With a request not to allow above auction to honour Anti-National painter M.F.Husain as explained above.
HJS visitor send protest letter to reliance and Christies
May 15, 2008
Dear Sir,
I read the news article that you are patronizing Mr. M F Hussain. Being an investor in your company’s many ventures in my own way and have been an admirer of your efforts in wealth building of this nation, I want to write this to you.
I am a PhD degree holder from a reputed institute. I take pride in my culture, society, and the nation. I also appreciate Indian industries and their contributions to the nation, in this context I remember Jemshetji Tata’s and Dhirubai Ambani’s various philanthropic endeavours.
While I appreciate the individual freedom of expression, I also believe in respecting the sentiments of others. I am also a peace abiding and constitution respecting citizen of this country. In this context, I could not fathom your generosity to take M F Hussain to Christie’s. The following are the reasons:
- M F Hussain has proven to be a hypocrite. He has always been insulting the sentiments of Hindus. He never treated in the same way the other faiths. It is not only the nude pictures he wrote but he wrote vulgarly depicting, primitive instincts of animals and humans.
- M F Hussain does not respect the Indian laws. Instead of fighting the cases constitutionally with the help of his lawyers and having the faith in the judiciary he went absconding. He left the country. If a person has not done any mistake (at the least according to the law) then he will not fear the repercussions. He has no faith in the Indian judiciary that is why he left the country. I don’t think a person who is so senior and wants to upheld the freedom of expression should disrespect the Indian constitution/judiciary by just disappearing.
- While I condemn the physical attacks and vandalism of some people of this nation against his "art", I don’t think he deserves any sympathy due to his behaviour throughout. Take it for example, picturing Madhuri Dixit and booking the entire theatre for himself. This is in no way proves that he is sane. I know that he can do what he thinks, but a social figure of his stature will always be scrutinized for his acts in public it almost borders around perverted sexual animal to a harebrained.
- He is also a liar. When he scheduled an auction of his controversial "Bharatha Mata" picture, there were protests in Delhi. The auctioneer and he himself AGREED and obliged not to auction the same. However, in a clandestine manner he did auction the picture.
- A public figure who wants the nation to support his artistic freedom should behave in such a way that he takes care of others’ feelings, which I am sure that is reasonable. In fact he should also respect our freedom to oppose him peacefully and legally.
You may notice that I have not touched any of the morality aspects in my arguments.
With these arguments I implore you to reconsider your decision to support such a person who has utter disrespect towards Hindu faith but also disrespect towards his country’s judiciary. I also hope that you will be considerate towards the feelings of persons like me who have invested in your company. I think, people these days do not follow anyone blindly. People are aware of the incidents that are happening around. I would also like to convey a message to you that thousands of investors at some point will turn against you if you are not responsible. After all, in this capitalistic world where there are so many options for investment Anil Dhirubai ambani venture is NOT the ONLY means to invest. I am sorry for being blunt.
I here by promise you that I have many investments in your company that only reflects my capacity to invest. However, there are 1000s of thousands who share my opinion and the amount put together makes millions of investment in your company. No intelligent public figure can neglect the public opinion and ire against her/his actions. I hope, you do understand our feelings.
Please reply to me if I have crossed any limits of my freedom of expressions. I will stand corrected.
Thank you for your attention this far. I appreciate and wish good luck in your wealth creation and nation building ventures sans M F Hussain
related actions.
Best regards,
Prasad
Anti-Hindu M F Hussain’s work to be auctioned in London by ‘Harmony Art Foundation’
May 13, 2008
Mumbai (Maharashtra): ‘Harmony Art Foundation’ set up by the famous industrialist Shri. Anil Ambani and Mrs. Teena Ambani have planned, in association with ‘Christies Birkclays’, to auction 12 paintings by Hussain and other artists to collect 81 crores of rupees. This auction will take place at London between 7th to 10th June. The above news was published in ‘DNA’s ‘After hours’ supplement on 9th May. The auction will include paintings like ‘Prophet’ by M F Hussain, ‘Bull on Rickshaw’ by Saiyab Mehta and ‘Birth’ by F. N. Sauza. Since various Hindu Organizations, parties and devout Hindus objected to Hussain’s art exhibitions and auction of his paintings, the paintings could not be sold in India and now the auction will take place in London. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has appealed to devout Hindus to oppose such glorification of Hussain.
Protest MF Hussain’s paintings exhibition by Ambani at Christie’s
May 7, 2008
Namaskar,
In spite of numerous worldwide protests against M. F. Husain, his paintings are still being exhibited and glorified, often with the support of our own Hindu brethren. Please see here news about M. F. Husain’s paintings to be exhibited at Christie’s Art Gallery at South Kensington, UK from 14 May through 10 June.
economictimes.indiatimes.com/Tina_Anil_Ambani_take_art_collection_to_Christie/articleshow/3018116.cms
This exhibition is being held, courtesy Anil and Tina Ambani. Anil Ambani, who has grown to be one of the richest people in the world today, thanks to the Hindu majority India, has proudly kept a private collection of M. F. Husain’s paintings, enough to fuel a month-long exhibition at Christie’s!
Hindus, this is how much the Ambanis value your religious feelings! Besides registering your protests to Christie’s, make sure to protest to the Ambanis!
Anil Ambani email address: [email protected] or [email protected] or call Reliance at 3037 3333
Only two years ago in UK, the Asia House Gallery had to close down their exhibition of M. F. Husain’s paintings, after vehement protests undertaken by the Hindus there.
http://www.hinduhumanrights.org/pressreleases/hhrPreReleaseAsiaHouse2.html
Let us take inspiration also from protests leading to cancellation of M. F. Husain’s felicitation in Dubai recently:
https://www.hindujagruti.org/activities/campaigns/national/mfhussain-campaign/recentissues.php#bct
If you are in the UK or know any Hindus in the UK, you can organize protest demonstrations outside Christie’s in South Kensington.
Let us compel Christie’s and the Ambanis to stop this exhibition, by making our voices heard at:
Christie’s Chairman: Hugh Edmeades
General Manager: Tom Woolston
Address and sales room
85 Old Bromptom Road, London, SW7 3LD
Tel: + 44(0) 20 79306074
Fax:+ 44(0) 20 77523321
Sales Room Tel: + 44(0)2079306074
