Saturday, August 23, 2008

Art and religion

India's biggest art fair opened on Friday, but the show was mired in controversy when organisers left out the works of the country's best-known painter for fear of attacks by Hindu vigilantes opposed to him.

The works of Maqbool Fida Husain, typically a blend of cubism and classical Indian styles that fetch millions on international art markets, were conspicuous by their absence at the India Art Summit.

The artist's famous paintings of naked Hindu gods have delighted art afficionados but enraged Hindu vigilantes who have attacked his house in the past and vandalised shows displaying his works.
It is clear that Maqbool Fida Husain is not aware that the only contemporary religion that artists can safely spoof and have fun with is Christianity. Read the Reuters story by Melanie Lee here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is a sad situation. There are more pressing issues people should be protesting about. MF Husain is a wonderful artist and if his work is being criticized for its contents, it is due to religious animosity between small groups of people.There are a number of artists in India creating more provoking work,so why target him?

Anonymous said...

Shanthi, surely you know there are troubles in India (and other countries) with the indigenous population and Muslims, of which M.F. Husain is one. Do you seriously think you could "offend Allah" in a Muslim country and get away with your life? Where are your post-enlightenment universal values? Don't they apply to Muslims equally?