Qatar Museums Unveils M F Husain Exhibition: A Journey Through India's Heritage

Dubai, Oct 22 (PTI) – Qatar Museums has unveiled an immersive exhibition centered on the works of the renowned artist M F Husain, offering a glimpse into his perception of India as both an ancient civilisation and a nation that has emerged postcolonially.

Jointly organized with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in New Delhi, this captivating exhibition will be showcased at the QM Gallery Katara from October 28 to February 7.

Entitled 'The Rooted Nomad: M F Husain', the exhibition encapsulates the contrasting aspects of Husain’s life, highlighting his profound ties to his motherland alongside his wanderlust and cosmopolitan essence, according to a statement from the museum.

The exhibition mirrors Husain’s vision of India, celebrating it as both a civilization steeped in antiquity and a nation forged in the postcolonial era. "Through an exploration of mythologies, shared histories, literature, and various manifestations, Husain eloquently articulated a cohesive vision of a modern India, employing a lexicon of symbolic iconographies grounded in a unique artistic sensibility," the statement elaborates.

This presentation initially premiered at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2024. As it makes its way to Doha, the showcase is described as a "fully immersive, multi-sensory experiential project," tracing the artist's itinerant spirit and creative endeavors from his formative years in India to his final days in Doha as a Qatari citizen. It integrates over 80 representative works by Husain, interwoven with textual materials including his photographs, drawings, poems, cinema posters, and rarely seen archival elements.

"We are honored to collaborate with Qatar Museums to present an immersive exhibition on M F Husain, India’s most iconic artist, whose inclusive and expansive artistic vision resonates across cultures," expressed Roobina Karode, Director and Chief Curator at KNMA.

"The Rooted Nomad seeks to introduce new audiences to the artist’s creative trajectory, characterized by his striking blend of quasi-abstract language, melding calligraphy, idealized motifs from ancient Indian reliefs, and folk traditions, which depict varied themes including the Mahabharata, Karbala, and The Last Supper with poetic brevity," Karode added.

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