Yours truly, MF Husain

This photograph was taken by me at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, in 1993, during MF Husain’s landmark exhibition ‘Let History Cut Across Me, Without Me’. The image reflects not just a moment, but an entire philosophy that shaped Husain’s artistic life — the idea of performance.

Husain often modelled his artistic persona on Picasso, with bold gestures and theatrical presence that mirrored his fascination with cinema and storytelling. This photograph captures a live dialogue between the photographer, the artist and his work — a moment where past and present meet through visual interaction.

The shoot was not planned as a traditional documentation. Initially intended to cover the exhibition’s opening, the session evolved when Husain, intrigued by my photographs, agreed to a dedicated portrait shoot. What began as a brief session turned into a full day of improvisation and creative exchange. Husain posed with his paintings, interacting with them as if on a film set.

The result is a photo that balances grandeur with intimacy. It’s a portrait of self-awareness and playfulness, where the artist’s ‘performance’ becomes part of the artwork itself. The act of photographing Husain became a collaborative ritual, an acknowledgement that every image is a dialogue between the subject, the artist and the viewer.

This photo is part of a larger series that preserves a dynamic conversation — between Husain, his works, and the camera — offering viewers a space to engage, interpret and discover their own meanings. It was exhibited at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in an exhibition titled ‘Sadak.Sarai.Sheher.Basti’ in 2017 and at the 2024 Venice Biennale with an immersive exhibition called ‘The Rooted Nomad’, both curated by Roobina Karode.

— Parthiv Shah is an accomplished photographer, filmmaker and graphic designer

Arts