Husain: Riding the Lightning

Maqbool Fida Husain has been a legend in his lifetime. Now 80, Husain grew up in Indore spending his school hours at the cinema. He came to Bombay in his youth and earned his living by painting cinema hoardings. Husain emerged as a painter proper in the forties and was associated with the historic progressive artists’ group. Husain has since displayed his amazing versatility and his deep empathy for his fellow humans. His work has been seen all over the world and he has maintained a high position in international auctions. Husain’s creativity has flown into a thousand directions: films, murals, sculpture and designing. He has left his stamp on such structures as Husain-ki Sarai and the Husain – Doshi Gufa. The essence of Husain’s artistic personality is that he has made no artificial distinction between art and craft. He graduated effortlessly from hoarding-painting to "classical" work on the canvas. Even while he did this, he did not hesitate to make toys. Husain has painted women wit