Husain exhibition continues despite protests

Shravan Krushna Dwadashi

Updates

• Husain exhibition continues despite protests (28 Aug 08)
• First Indian Art Summit comes to a close (26 Aug 08)
• Hindu Activists vandalise Hussain art exhibit in Delhi (25 Aug 08)
• Biggest art fair, minus Hussain (24 Aug 08)
• Govt. Steers clear of Husain controversy (23 Aug 08)
• 900 cases against M.F. Hussain in Goa? (22 Aug 08)
• Husain? No, sorry! (21 Aug 08)

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Hussain exhibition continues despite protests

August 28, 2008

Shravan Krushna Dwadashi

A day after an exhibition of MF Hussain was vandalised by activists of a little-known saffron outfit, the organisers on August 25, continued to showcase the works of the renowned painter, which otherwise would have concluded on Sunday, as mark of protest.
   
A number of SAHMAT members, artists and others wearing badges which read "Hussain Hamara Hai" gathered near the exhibition hall at Constitutional Club and condemned yesterday’s attack. (Hindus should teach lesson to such anti-Hindus!)
  
A group of activists of ‘Shri Ram Sena’ yesterday destroyed frames of some prints of Husain’s paintings displayed at the ‘symbolic protest exhibition’, organised by SAHMAT to protest the non-inclusion of his paintings at the India Art Summit.
  
A number of police personnel were deployed in and around the exhibition area to thwart any untoward incident.

Expressing solidarity with SAHMAT, CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat, who visited the exhibition termed the vandalism as "an act by anti-social elements". (Communists always support to anti-Hindus. Why don’t Brinda Karat talks about anti-Hindu paintings of Hussain?)
  
Criticising the government for its "liberal attitude" towards the "fascist forces", Karat said, "On first place government has put itself on the bad position by excluding Hussain’s paintings from the Art Summit".
 
"The government’s attitude has not only encouraged fascist forces but has also given a wrong message to the people. The government has succumed to the pressure of anti-social elements by refraining from its constitutional duty to guarantee the people their fundamental right of freedom of expression," she said.
  
In a statement, CPI(M) politburo condemned the attack and demanded that the culprits involved in the vandalisation of the exhibition be brought to book.

Source: Times Now

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First Indian Art Summit comes to a close

August 26, 2008

Shravan Krushna Dashami

New Delhi: The first Indian Art Summit, which displayed 400 works of over 200 artists from India and abroad apart from the M F Hussain controversy, drew to a close here on Sunday with aficionados evincing lots of interest in the country’s contemporary art.

The three-day event saw the participation of over 34 art galleries featuring some rare collections of masters like S N Souza, S H Raza, Satish Gujral, Anju Ela Menon and Jamini Roy besides promoting budding Indian artists.

The festival had its share of controversies as organisers, fearing disruption of proceedings, decided to ignore M F Hussain’s works, which have been centre of controversies over depiction of deities.

The decision to exclude Hussain met with sharp criticism from artists, art lovers and critics alike.

Critic Geeta Kapoor and a reputed voice in the art world Robert Starr, who is the Dean of Yale University’s Art School, were vocal in their protest against the absence of one of India’s best known artists from the exhibition.

A parallel ‘Hussain Show’ organised by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust to protest against the exclusion of the painter, was attacked today by some activists, who damaged a few frames.

Meanwhile, the final day of the Summit drew a huge Sunday crowd and saw Souza remaining the most priced artist with his paintings starting from Rs 5 lakh onwards.

"The response to the festival has surpassed all our expectations. In fact, we are already gearing for preparations for next year," festival organiser and MD of Hanmer and MS&L Sunil Gautam said.

With a new found interest in Indian contemporary art, many people tried to strike a deal with gallery owners to buy some art work on the final day of the festival.

Source: Economic times

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Hindu Activists vandalise Hussain art exhibit in Delhi

August 25, 2008

Shravan Krushna Navami

New Delhi: Nearly 10 Hindu activist have vandalised an MF Hussain art exhibition in the nation’s capital – New Delhi – damaging art worth millions.

The three-day exhibition was to protest Hussain’s exclusion from India Art Summit 2008, the country’s first international art summit. Sahmat, a Delhi-based non-profit organisation working on communal harmony, organised the exhibition.

Today was the last day, but to protest the vandalism, the trust has decided to continue it tomorrow as well. The vandals have been described as young men belonging to the Shri Ram Sena who came in as visitors, then went on a rampage. They then chanted slogans praising Lord Ram and left Sena pamphlets behind. Sahmat has lodged a police complaint.

Arpana Caur, a painter who was present at the time of the attack, said, "These men came near the paintings and tried to damage them. They were carrying placards with Jai Shri Ram written on them."

Police reached the spot soon after the incident, but the miscreants managed to escape.

Describing the attack as a "cowardly act", Rajan, one of the organisers, said, "the DCP of the area had been informed well in advance about a possible disruption but no security was provided making us an easy target."

Meanwhile, the organisers have extended the exhibition by a day.

First Indian Art Summit overshadowed by Hussain absence

Indian Art Summit 2008 began here today but the country’s first-such event, showcasing works of over 200 artists, was conspicuous by the absence of M F Hussain’s paintings.

The three-day Summit, inaugurated by Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni, is also aimed at providing a platform to discuss issues like development of modern and contemporary Indian art by experts from Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

The fair has brought together 35 top galleries from India and overseas who are collectively showcasing above 400 artworks that includes paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media, video, prints, installations and drawings.

But the absence of the works of Hussain, currently in exile in Dubai, did not go down well with the art fraternity as national and international artists alike voiced their disappointment over the issue.

The organisers have decided not to put up Hussain’s paintings at the summit fearing protests by right wing organisations, who had done so earlier with his ‘Bharatmata’ series.

"It is the first Indian Art Summit where so many artists are showcasing their work. Hussain is a very important artist of India and he should also have been represented here," said Jatin Das.

"Political parties have nothing to do with the art, they have no understanding of it. Politicising art is very sad," Das said.

Renowned art critic Robert Storr, also the Dean of Yale University’s School of Art, expressed his unhappiness over the whole controversy surrounding Hussain.

"From what I have read it is terrible. Hussain is much too important a person not only as an artist but also a global cultural figure for this to have happened.

"The whole nature of the physical threats to culture is that you have to stand up against it. It is the only way to protect the freedom of expression which is the actual minimum
for the art to freely express itself," Storr said.

He, however, hoped the situation initiates a positive discussion and make people understand that this should not happen again.

The Nature Morte Art Gallery which is showcasing its collection in the Summit has also included a photo of Hussain painting a horse by Ram Rahman to show their solidarity with the artist living in exile.

"We put this photo because of this (the exclusion). If this is not a safe place to show Hussain then where is it. It is a matter of freedom of expression. He has been censored and is in exile. If the art fraternity is not going to support him, then who will?" questioned the gallery’s director Peter Nagy.

Unhappy over the non-representation of Hussain in the three-day fair, Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust has organised a parallel exhibition ‘Hussain Art Summit’ to protest the decision.

Speaking on the issue, Rajan on behalf of SAHMAT said, "In the first Art Summit you exclude the most prominent artist just because some people have objected to his work. It doesn’t make any sense. So as a mark of solidarity we are showing some 10-20 paintings of Hussain."

Source: Times Now

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Biggest art fair, minus Hussain

August 24, 2008

Shravan Krushna Ashtami

New Delhi, Aug. 23: India’s biggest-ever art trade fair is showcasing 400 artists, but the man who brought money into Indian art is missing.

M.F. Husain is banned from the three-day India Art Summit at Pragati Maidan despite a culture ministry statement expressing support for him on Thursday.

Organiser Hanmer and Partner, a PR firm, has asked the 35 Indian and foreign gallery owners to keep out the controversial painter on grounds of security, angering many in the Delhi art world.

The company says it cannot let the galleries put up works by Husain, forced into self-imposed exile since angering Hindutva groups with his paintings of Bharatmata and nude goddesses.

"For the first time such high-valued art pieces are (being) displayed…. We were required to seek permission to ensure that nothing went wrong," said Neha Kripal, associate director of the summit.

"Security is our responsibility. Hence, the decision of not showcasing Husain’s works. It is not a hidden fact — everybody knows there is some sense of uncertainty attached to Husain in our country."

But artists today criticised the culture ministry of Ambika Soni — who inaugurated the fair yesterday — for not standing up for Husain’s freedom of expression.

The ministry, which has provided Pragati Maidan for the fair, had said on Thursday that while it "has not been consulted regarding the artists whose works are to be displayed", it would be happy if Husain’s paintings were displayed.

To photographer Ram Rahman, this is little more than a dodge. "The ministry should do something more than issue statements. It’s a shame that a summit of such a large scale doesn’t have Husain’s paintings," said Rahman, founder member of Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (Sahmat), which is running a parallel exhibition solely of reproductions of Husain’s paintings.

"He is the one who has commercialised Indian art and that’s why we artists can demand a certain amount of money for our work. He is responsible for creating the world-market boom for Indian art. If the fundamentalists are a problem, the venue should have adequate security," he added.

Peter Nagy, a gallery owner, has expressed his displeasure by putting up a photograph of Husain. "Some viewers were angry but I have stuck to what I believe," he said.

Gallery owners are particularly disappointed that the ban covers all of Husain’s works. "I wanted to display three Husain paintings from the 1960s but wasn’t allowed. None of those paintings was controversial," said Ashish Anand of Delhi Art Gallery.

Source: Calcutta Telegraph

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Govt. Steers clear of Husain controversy

August 23, 2008

Shravan Krushna Saptami

New Delhi: Washing its hands off the controversy surrounding non-inclusion of paintings of M F Hussain at the India Art Summit, the Culture Ministry has said that it was not consulted about the choice of works to be displayed but would be "happy" if the artist is included.

Hussain’s works are missing at the three-day mega art event beginning at Pragati Maidan today.
However, works of of many reputed artists including FN Souza, S H Raza and Jamini Roy are being showcased at the event.

While the ministry welcomes all attempts of creativity, it has not been consulted regarding artists whose works are to be displayed at the Summit, a spokesperson of the Ministry said.

"However, it would be happy if all major artists, including the paintings of M F Husain are displayed, at such an event," he said.

"Husain is one of the most prominent artistes of the country and the absence of his work at the India Art Summit will not reflect the true scenario of India," he added.

In fact, the ministry has clarified that recently it involved Husain as a member of its National Culture Fund Council.

The ministry was reacting to media reports that the works of the 92-year-old artist, in self-exile since 2006 after he faced threats from right wing Hindu outfits over his paintings, have been left out of the Summit.

Source: PTI

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900 cases against M.F. Hussain in Goa?

August 22, 2008

Shravan Krushna Shashthi

New Delhi: There are as many as 900 criminal cases filed against M F Husain in Goa, says the renowned artist.

Speaking to Renuka Narayanan of Hindustan Times from Dubai, Husain said: "There are about 2,500 cases against me; 900 just from Goa. Everything is sub-judice.  I understand." He was speaking in context of India’s first art trade fair, which started on Friday at Pragati Maidan, here, which will showcase 400 works by 200 artists from 35 galleries, but includes not a single work of M F Husain’s.

Source: Herald

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Husain? No, sorry!

August 21, 2008

Shravan Krushna Panchami

Mumbai: The India Art Summit, a prestigious art fair that will kick-start on August 22 in Delhi will not be showcasing legendary artist M F Hussain’s works. This three-day art fair, one of the first of its kind in the country will have 35 galleries from India (and abroad) showcasing works of renowned artists like FN Souza, SH Raza, Atul Dodiya and Baiju Parthan.

However, Hussain’s canvases will not be shown for ‘reasons of security’.  The earlier program circulated however did include Husain’s name in the list.  Neha Kripal, associate director of the summit says, "For the first time such high valued art pieces are going to be displayed in public at the huge Pragati Maidan (Delhi). It is a  logistical project. We were required to seek permissions to ensure that nothing goes wrong." She adds, "The security of the people who will attend the summit is our responsibility. Hence, the decision of not showcasing Hussain’s works. It is not a hidden fact—everybody knows that there is some sense of uncertainty attached to Hussain in our country."

Hussain, who is aware of his works not being showcased says, "I know about it. The fact is there are eight cases in court against me. Even though I have got relief from some, the matter is still subjudice for me to talk about. I can totally understand the situation."

Safdar Hashmi Memorial trust is protesting against the non-inclusion of Hussain’s works. They will organise an exhibition that will just have images of Husain’s works during the same time of the summit. (This shows that Muslims hate Hindu Deities & Symbols? Will Safdar Hashmi Trust will keep pictures which are defaming Islam?)

Hussain lives in voluntary exile to avoid prosecution over his ‘objectionable’ paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses.

Source: DNA India

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