Today Google has a very ‘artsy-fartsy’ doodle with MF Hussain in it. Why? Well it’s his 100th birth anniversary. So we’re going to tell you a bit about him, maybe you already know this stuff, or maybe you don’t but here we go anyway.
Hussain was born into a Muslim family on the 17th of September 1915, his family trace their roots way back to Yemen, but were based in Maharashtra. Hussain became interested in art while studying calligraphy in a Madrasa and is well known for being ‘self-taught’. Forbes magazine has gone to the extent of calling him the “Picasso of India”, whether he is or not, is a whole other topic.
But what was he best known for? It’s hard to say because his topics ranged from Mohandas K. Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the British Raj, and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. His work was applauded and criticized equally as it is said to be a “blend of cubism and classical Indian styles”. Now, we all know what happens when you try to mess with the Indian classical version of things. But, Google has made a decent attempt at trying to showcase the artist’s style through this doodle.
It is refreshing to know that this art maestro was also linked with the Mumbai cinema industry in his early days when he would make posters for films and also apparently worked for a toy company to earn a little extra money. That’s a humble background for someone who owns a Buggati Veyron and drives it with equal finesse as his art.
Oh! The Buggatti isn’t the only luxury car he owned.
