A Farewell In Bronze For M F Husain

Ahmedabad: A bronze statue of MF Husain, shown barefoot and contemplative, with one seat left deliberately empty beside him — now stands outside Amdavad Ni Gufa. After nearly three decades as custodian of the iconic underground gallery, Relia is preparing to return its administration to the Ahmedabad Education Society. The statue is a memorial to his closest friend.

“He was with us for almost the last 20 years of his life,” Relia says of Husain. “He always used to come to Ahmedabad and stay with us.” The sculpture’s unhurried pose draws directly from those shared hours. “We have spent hours talking on the swing. I have many pictures showing us absorbed in conversation.”