M.F Hussain
Maqbool Fida Husain, better known as M. F. Husain (17 September 1915 – 9 June 2011), was an Indian artist known for executing bold, vibrantly coloured narrative paintings in a modified Cubist style. He was one of the most celebrated and internationally recognised Indian artists of the 20th century. He was one of the founding members of Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group. M.F. Husain is associated with Indian modernism in the 1940s. His early association with the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group used modern technique, and was inspired by the “new” India after the partition of 1947. His narrative paintings, executed in a modified Cubist style, can be caustic and funny as well as serious and sombre. His themes—sometimes treated in series—include topics as diverse as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the British Raj, and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. In September 2020, his painting titled “Voices”, auctioned for a record $2.5 million.
The artist cite “The Partition” of India and Pakistan 14 August 1947, with its resulting religious rioting and heavy loss of life as their reason for forming The Progressive Artist’s Group in Bombay in December 1947. The artists saw the Partition as a “turning point” for India, and their new style of art was urged on by, and was also a turning point for, (modern) Indian Art. Husain’s first solo art exhibition was in 1952 in Zürich. His first U.S. exhibit was at India House in New York City in 1964. his biography written by Akhilesh “Maqbool” is the most appreciated book published by Rajkamal Prakashan New Delhi.
Husain was a special invitee along with Pablo Picasso at the São Paulo Biennial, Brazil in 1971. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1986.
- Padma Shri in 1966, Government of India.
- Padma Bhushan in 1973, Government of India.
- Padma Vibhushan in 1991, Government of India.
- Raja Ravi Varma Award in 2007, Government of Kerala.
- Honorary Doctorates from Banaras Hindu University, Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Calicut (2003) and University of Mysore.
- National Art Award in 2004, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
- Aditya Vikram Birla ‘Kalashikkar’ Award in 1997 for Lifetime Achievement.
- National Film Award for Best Experimental Film for Through the Eyes of a Painter, in 1968 India.
- Golden Bear short film award for his film Through the Eyes of a Painter at Berlin International Film Festival in 1967 and purchased by Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York City.
- International Biennale Award in 1959, Tokyo.
- First Prize at the National Exhibition of Art in 1955, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
- Bombay Art Society in 1947, Mumbai.