KNMA And Qatar Museums Upcoming Exhibition On M.F. Husain Traces The Duality Of The Artist’s Life

Qatar Museums (QM), in collaboration with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) Delhi is coming up with ‘The Rooted Nomad: M.F. Husain’ — an immersive exhibition dedicated to Maqbool Fida Husain, one of India’s most renowned modern artists. Opening on October 28 at QM Gallery Katara in Qatar and running until 7 February, 2026, the exhibition explores the duality of M.F Husain’s life: his profound rootedness in India’s cultural heritage and his nomadic spirit that transcended continents.

Conceived as part of Evolution Nation, an 18-month cultural initiative marking Qatar’s 50-year cultural journey and building upon the Qatar–India 2019 Year of Culture, the upcoming showcase underscores the enduring artistic dialogue between the two countries.

Sheikha Reem Al-Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions, Public Art, and Rubaiya Qatar and Director of Central Exhibitions at Qatar Museums, shared, “Through ‘The Rooted  Nomad: MF Husain’, Qatar Museums is proud to continue its dialogue with India’s rich artistic heritage in partnership with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. Husain’s vision spanning continents, histories, and identities reflects the spirit of exchange that defines Qatar’s cultural landscape today. This immersive exhibition offers audiences a renewed encounter with an artist whose work  continues to inspire global conversations on belonging and creativity.”

Following its debut at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2024, ‘The Rooted Nomad’ has been re-envisioned as a multi-sensory show. It traces M.F Husain’s artistic evolution right from his early years in India to his final years spent in Doha, where he lived as a Qatari citizen.

Featuring over 80 art works, the exhibition unfolds as a vivid panorama of paintings, photographs, drawings, poems, cinema posters, and rare archival material. Together, these pieces illuminate Husain’s bursting creativity and lifelong exploration of themes that affected him personally too such as movement, migration, and identity. His works weave mythology, memory, and modernity into a pluralistic visual language that portrays India as both an ancient civilization and a vibrant postcolonial nation.

Curated by KNMA and designed by Visioni Srl, Rome, the exhibition has been newly conceptualised to enhance its spatial and sensory impact. Through a synthesis of motion graphics, choreography, 2D and 3D animation, and sound design, it reimagines the concept of yatra—a journey both spiritual and creative, serving as a metaphor for transformation and belonging. The result is a deeply humanistic canvas that transcends borders, reflecting Husain’s enduring belief in art as a bridge across geographies, cultures, and generations.

Roobina Karode, Director and Chief Curator at KNMA, said: “We feel honoured to present along with Qatar Museums an immersive on MF Husain, India’s most iconic artist whose  inclusive and expansive artistic vision speaks to audiences across cultures. ‘The Rooted Nomad’ aims to bring to new audiences the creative journey of the artist with his striking composite quasi-abstract language melding calligraphy, idealised motifs from ancient Indian reliefs and  folk traditions, pictorially representing varied themes including the Mahabharata, Karbala and The Last Supper with poetic brevity. Our partnering with QM Gallery Katara on this presentation  holds a special significance, with Qatar having opened a new chapter of artistic production for  the artist.”