The Hindu : New Delhi News : Shamshad Husain’s journey to fame

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 03, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Shamshad Husain’s journey to fame

New Delhi: His first work went for a measly Rs. 50 in 1968. Now it sells for lakhs.

It has taken painter Shamshad Husain almost forty years to get out of his illustrious father M. F. Husain’s shadow. Speaking on the sidelines of the Triveda art auction, junior Husain, reminisced about his struggle to become an artist and how the art scene has drastically changed today.

“The art scene in India has changed a lot as far as I am concerned. People are investing more in art today which was not the case earlier.” About his struggle to become an artist he recounted, “I left home in 1963 and never went back home. Though I visited home for a day or two, as I was very close to my mother. But never to stay there permanently.”

He enrolled for a formal professional art course at the Baroda Fine Arts College in 1963 because he wanted to emerge from his father’s shadow.

Fresh out of college in 1963 he stayed in a rented apartment. “My landlady had a heart of gold. My first exhibition was held in Hyderabad in 1968 but I did not have any money to go there. My landlady gave me Rs. 100. I still remember the person who bought my first sketch for Rs. 50,” he says.

His painting sold for Rs. 4,80,000 lakh at the Triveda art auction. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi