By a Staff Writer

The Indo American Arts Council (IAAC) and Asian Art Christie's organized a tribute to M.F. Husain, the eminent Indian painter who died in London last month.

Aroon Shivdasani, executive director of IAAC, and Hugo Weihe, senior vice president and international director of Asian Art Christie's hosted the June 29 event at Christie's in New York City. About 300 people attended the event, organized exactly three weeks after Husain's death, Shivdasani told Desi Talk in an email.  "The packed room had many people like me who knew and loved him, and loads of others who were there to pay homage to this phenomenal renaissance man," she said.

Weihe welcomed the audience and Shivdasani spoke about Husain, their relationship, the “Gaja Gamini” collaboration between Christie's and IAAC.

A short film on Husain by Nitin Madan  was screened.

Several attendees, including Debbie Keehn, Danny Herwitz, Dr. Arani Bose, Guni Murjhani, Ustad Nishat Khan and Deepak Chopra spoke about their memories of Husain.

A clip from Husain's film “Meenakshi was screened to show his connection to popular Indian culture. “Husain saab was a member of the IAAC Advisory Board, a friend, an amazing artist and one of India's most talented, exciting artists,” Shivdasani said.