Friends, fellow artists recall late artist M F Husain

When the late painter M F Husain was asked by good friend and fellow painter Ram Kumar whether he regretted not coming back to India from his self imposed exile the veteran artist gave a poignant reply.
"You talk about regret. I feel like going atop a building and jumping."
Friends, artists gallery owners and admirers of the late artist gathered at a poetry recital function held at Dhoomimal Art Gallery here late last evening to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of the modernist painter.
Shamshad Husain, the son of the veteran artist was the chief guest at the occasion which saw many young poets reciting several poems on Husain.

Fellow Progressive artist Krishen Khanna used the occasion to look back at a friendship that dated back to days when Husain used to work in a carpenter's shop.
"I remember he once borrowed a book from me and misplaced it. In return, he offered me a painting and the transaction was a real benefit to me because the book was never that good," Khanna reminisced.

"There is so much to talk about Husain the poet, Husain the filmmaker and Husain the painter we all admire. I remember on my last day at the bank where I was employed, he along with other friends were waited for me to get out of the place. Once I came out, he took away the tie I was wearing stating I had no more use of it."

Khanna also recited a poem penned by Husain titled "Send me a snow clad sheet of sky."
Another prominent artist, Arpana Caur who has created a tribute to Husain, an installation titled "Do gaz zameen bhi na mili koo-e-yaar mein" at the Lalit Kala Akademi here recalled that the late artist used to encourage young talent.
"At my first ever show in Mumbai he bought the first painting. I was flattered. When I visited his museum in Bangalore and saw the work hanging there among works by other artists like Ram Kumar. It was a great feeling," says Caur.
Caur also recited poems that Husain had written especially his relationship with his mother whose death he never got over.

Senior art critic, writer and poet Suneet Chopra recited one of his new poems at the event. Titled 'A Conversation with Husain' the poem is based on a talk that Chopra had with Husain over keema curry and chapati. Chopra says only during the process of writing the poem did he realise the import of the conversation.