MF Husain is in self-imposed exile, living outside India even as he faces legal charges back home. However, the 91-year-old artist still remains active as he works in London and in Dubai, where he has been living for the past few months. His next cinematic venture, a comedy, is expected to take off this October. He is now in the United States, having staged an exhibition featuring his paintings on the Mahabharata in Boston.
'Of Images and Illusions', an exhibition at the Tamarind Art gallery in Manhattan featured five young Indian artists but the centre of attention was the Guest of Honour at the opening reception - MF Husain. The veteran artist has now lived overseas for over a year since facing legal action in India. But Husain maintains he is living outside India voluntarily.
Artist, MF Husain told CNBC-TV18, "Anytime I can go, there is no restriction. Normally, I used to come out. For the last 50 years, I�ve worked in New York, I�ve worked in Paris, in London. At the moment, I�m working in Dubai. I�m building a museum there. I�m building a museum in London also. This is the thing. No restrictions whatsoever."
While the cases against Husain were filed over the alleged obscene depiction of Hindu deities in his paintings, the artist is confident this attack on art will be shortlived. Husain says, "Nothing has happened. I don�t feel sad. Because this is modern art, it takes time. When the Impressionists came after the Renaissance, the whole society revolted against them. I�m just taking it as a work of art. That�s all. People could interpret it any way, they�re all free, it�s a democracy in India."
Even as Husain faces legal charges in India, he is working on a project for the Indian government to mark the 60th year of independence, depicting India through the eyes of an artist. It will be unveiled in New York this September.
His work may attract controversy, but there�s no controversy over the fact that MF Husain is India�s most high-profile artist and the right choice to chronicle on canvas, the 60 years of the country�s independence.
Anirudh Bhattacharyya
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