IN CONVERSATION
The misunderstood painter
The last time I saw him was in a crowded room, managing just a glimpse of one of the world's most celebrated artists. But this time round, I am with him, alone. Tall, abnormally upright for an 88-year old man, not the most genial, a trifle too restless, this "father of modern Indian art" does not want to be bothered with clichéd questions.
"Even the man in the gas station knows all about me, so let's skip that bit," he says dismissively. Maqbool Fida Husain has just made Dubai his base for his latest series, "A Painter's Perspective of the 20th Century". Considering himself best suited for the mission, having lived through almost the entire century, he says: "I shall be painting 100 canvases reflecting the world's cultural, political, social and economical overtones through the years. These paintings will then be taken around the world. I plan to hold a prelude to this series soon in Dubai." He goes on to caution all art aficionados not to expect a Taj Mahal, a Gateway of India or other international edifices. "The paintings will exclusively be my interpretation of life through the century. The sky may be red, the ocean may be green, whatever."
In an interview with VASANTHI SUNDARAM, M.F. Husain talks about his love for colour, his dislike for semi-informed art critics, and his fascination with the feminine form. Excerpts ....
YOU don't behave like an 88-year old ... .
I don't feel like one. My passion for colours keeps me young and motivated. I am unconcerned about politics, society, or anything else. It's just my art that matters to me.
Are you forever searching for an answer through your works of art?
Not at all, I am not searching for anything, my paintings are just my construal of colour, line, and life.
A lot of people love to hate you. Why?
I keep on innovating, and people don't understand what I innovate. That's why.
Can you take criticism?
Not idiotic criticism. All creative work is ahead of time, while critics are idiots, and always lag behind. Unable to keep pace, they criticise. Arbitrary criticism is an age-old phenomenon that you have got to learn to live with, whether in literature, music, or art.
People call you the "father of modern painting". Are you one?
No, I am no father, or son, or any ghost!
Were you led into this love for painting?
I was not forced into it by anyone. My heart led me to it, and I've been at it from the age of six. I neither took it up as a profession, nor did I go to university to get a degree.
To be a good painter, what is more important: instinct or training?
Academics are for mediocre people, for those who want a degree and a job. Colleges cannot teach you to be creative.
How many canvases would you have painted by now?
Some 40,000 maybe.
Any personal favourites in your work?
The one on Mother Teresa. As it wasn't meant to be a portrait, I did not paint her face. I symbolised her as the eternal mother.
Why the fascination with the feminine form?
A woman is the mother of all creation. The world is born out of her womb. In Indian philosophy, the mother is reckoned to be the most powerful force in the world. Poets and writers have written reams in praise of women, so it's nothing extraordinary to paint women.
Your perception of the masculine form?
It complements the female form. I believe that every man is half woman, and every woman is half man. In India, we have the classical image of ardnarishwar, the half man-woman.
You have got both fame and fortune. Anything that you miss in life?
I lost my mother, Zainab, when I was 1½ years old, she never had her photograph taken, and so I never knew what she looked like. That is the one thing that I missed out on — having a mother.
Recall the most significant moment in your life.
Every day is the first day of the rest of my life. There is not one particular day or time that has been more important.
Are your days patterned?
No day is like the next one or the day before. That's the beauty of my existence. I wake up early even if I go to bed late. I don't indulge in meditation or yoga. My paintings are my meditation, I worship my paintings.
Your best time of the day to paint?
Anytime, anywhere, I don't need a mood to paint. I can paint right in the centre of a piazza with a thousand people, or just by myself. I don't have a studio anywhere in the world, I paint in a hotel room or at a friend's house. The place or the time is of no consequence.
Describe your painting.
It's just Indian painting. Each painting has a different connotation. It is a comment on society, and just as a writer expresses himself through words, I use colours. But in doing that, I create a vision that is universal. There are artists who explain their art; I don't see the need to do that.
Your inclination to splash colours on the canvas?
India is a colourful country. Unlike the climate in the West, where people hardly see the sun, India is blessed with four seasons which are invested with a multitude of colours. We imbibe those colours in every fabric of our life, and that's why Indians are called a colourful people.
You are partial to Rembrandt's style of painting?
He was a great humanist; he depicted the human being beautifully. However, there are the writers, thinkers, and philosophers who have influenced me too, and my art is a fusion of all these influences. No artist can paint in isolation. He will have to be sensitive to a whole lot of external stimuli. If he works in isolation, he will end up indulging in mass production. For the sake of producing.
You still write poetry?
I do. I love playing with words and ideas.
Your fetish for bare feet?
Purely for health reasons. It's not as if I have taken a vow. Those who say so speak nonsense.
I do wear shoes when it gets too cold. It really does not matter to me whether people accept me this way or not. I am not waiting for their acceptance.
Cinema and you?
I've always wanted to be a filmmaker, but the medium is so expensive that I had to wait for nearly 50 years to realise my dream. When I produce a film, I write the script, and the dialogue. My films are an expression of all that I have experienced through my paintings. The vision becomes complete then, because cinema is the ultimate medium that incorporates every form of art.
Your latest venture?
"Comedy.com", which is a film that will have Urmila Matondkar in the lead. I am still working on the script, and shall start to shoot it by March/April.
Your fondness for Ma'am Dixit?
Madhuri Dixit is a phenomenon. There cannot be another one like her. I have not come across an actress who is such a good human being. She is a class apart.
Define fame.
Fame happens to you. You cannot court fame. Those who try to seek fame deliberately fail miserably as their motive is quickly apparent. When you work hard just to please yourself, you are bound to please others in the process.
Fame and you?
I did not acquire fame overnight. It took Fame 40 years to come my way. For 20 years of my life, I was living on footpaths and sidewalks. Fame was an accident that happened to me, and I happened to be there when the accident took place! I was sensitive to the world around me, paid attention to people, yet I did not give them what they wanted. I gave them what I wanted. Fortunately for me, people took what I gave them, and my work was accepted.
Do you think you are exceptionally talented?
There are many people out there who are good, but not known, who are doing their work silently. I happened to make a lot of noise, some shouting, and so I was heard. My shouting has lasted for nearly four decades now, because the noise that I made was for a cause.
Cause? Which one?
Creativity. To create harmony and rhythm in life. That is the purpose of writers, and musicians, and that was my purpose too.
Why do you think you were accepted?
If your talent is genuine, you will succeed. And if what you do is genuinely done, you will always be accepted. It may take time, but acceptance will surely be yours, and you can never go wrong. Remember, you can fool people for some time, but not all the time. So, be sincere, and succeed.
Do creative people abuse the word creativity?
Recently, I had a show on my birthday in Kolkata of 88 of my paintings, where I said that 90 per cent of the artists are not artists. They just join the bandwagon for some quick money, they appear and vanish in no time. There is no formula for creativity, and there is no point in seeking that formula. And creativity certainly does not mean non-conformance.
How good a family man are you?
Many still think I am a bachelor! I am a father of six children, a dozen grandchildren and three or four great grandchildren. While I give 80 per cent of my time to my career, I keep aside 20 per cent to the family, much to the annoyance of my daughters. My family is the family of Man.
Do you ever get bored?
I don't know what it is to get bored. If you are sensitive and alert, there is so much the world has to offer. And in going through the course of life, you master the art of living. Isn't that exciting?
Look within and see who you are?
I am moody. But I don't impose myself on others, or assert my authority. If I don't agree with something or someone, I will walk away from that situation. I will not shout or raise a furore.
Your attitude to life?
I hate the word "revolution". To me there exists no such word. I respect people, admit their existence, and relate to them. If their beliefs don't correspond with mine, I will not go and demolish their values. I have no right to do that. The key of living is to harmonise yourself with others, and if you don't like or agree with something or someone, keep those feelings within you, don't react.
What have these 88 years of your life taught you?
Not to abuse or waste life. Even if you are endowed with creative talent, don't de-link yourself from life. You are not alone in this world, you have to co-exist. Seek, don't expect to be sought. The minute you put yourself on a pedestal, you will wither in frustration. That's what has happened to a million poets and painters. Their frustration is their own creation. Kill that ego, learn to deal with it, and you will survive, and survive well.
The art scene
"THERE are many good artists in India, whose work could be placed on par with anyone in the world. It's unfortunate that the depth and variety of Indian art is yet to be propagated internationally. Very few people know what the Indian art scene comprises. The main reason for this lack of awareness is due to the fact that we do not have one proficient creative mind, a well-informed and capable art writer who can encapsulate the power and variety of Indian art. We have hack writers (sorry, I don't mean you!) who just touch the surface, without dwelling on the core. So hardly anyone knows what we have achieved, and art remains confined to a select circle of people. However, I am confident that this will change, no great art movement can be suppressed for long, and Indian art will receive the recognition that is its due. It may take time, but the turnaround will eventually happen."
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