The barefoot messiah

For a self taught artist, Maqbool Fida Husain’s canvas was an amazingly wide one. India’s most iconic contemporary artist fearlessly straddled the world of politics, religion and filmdom in his works. He singlehandedly brought art into the daily discourse in India and was regarded as the barefoot messiah.

“Husain’s passing is not just a loss to the art world but to the entire nation,” said Mr Rajiv Lochan, Director National Gallery of Modern Art. “He was one of those stalwarts who evolved a personalised language for the large course of activities that he was involved in,” he said. “He was a poet, a painter, a film-maker - he dabbled with diverse mediums to give expression to his thoughts. And his vitality made him so prolific,” said the NGMA director.

I am very proud that 17 of Husain’s works - including Zameen - hang on the walls of the National Gallery of Modern Art’s permanent collection,” he added.

Artist Mr A. Ramachandran summed up the master painter's contribution to Indian art when he said, "I think his biggest contribution is that he has changed the whole status of art and artists in the country. The Kerala born artist noted that "Husain not only knew how to paint well but also how to sell well. His work of art was an asset for anybody to hold. "

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