Click to play videoNew Delhi: It's that time of the year again when artists from across the country are gearing up for yet another India Art Summit. Last year, there was a huge uproar on the works of MF Husain not being displayed. The situation is the same this year.
Last year international art curator Robert Storr had said, “It seems to me that if you have one of the most famous artists of India not present then people should think twice about how it happened.”
While Peter Nagy from Gallery Nature Morte had said, “If you can’t show Husain in an art fair in the Capital then where else?”
These were some strong reactions that organisers of the India Art Summit had to face last year. In August this year, the country will see the second India Art Summit and there's still no promise of showing Husain's work.
In fact, the art summit organisers have been quick to react this time. They've made sure that the blame lies entirely on the government for not providing enough security at the venue.
To which Husain said, “I understand that without the support of the state and complete police protection, it is impossible to show my art in the fair. My advice to the summit organisers is to perhaps show some books, films if possible."
Apart from this controversy which the summit organisers understand cannot be avoided, the venue, Pragati Maidan, is gearing up for what could be the biggest art summit in India ever with over 500 works on display, a total of 57 galleries, including 17 from overseas.
Let's hope that the government does wake up to respect the best deserved artist of the country.
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