Known for his flamboyant figuration on a sombre palette, unlike his father veteran artist M F Husain, Shamshad Husain had developed his own style. He studied at the M S University of Baroda, which was a wonderful phase of his life as he opened up to all kinds of experimentation in art. After graduating from Baroda, He went on to the London’s Royal College of Art where he found a vibrant environment to delve in Indian versus Western influence. Finding himself a victim of lineage, he strived to pave his own path in the art world that started off with the sketch and finally into figurative forms depicting his traditional style. His works mostly centred on human relations, expressing feelings of love and loss and sunshine and shadow and was profoundly noticed for a series on ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’.

Shamshad Husain, was a friendly, subtle soul, always willing to attend openings that he was invited to, not influenced by the status or inherent popularity he enjoyed in the art world. He would be there for all, be they emerging or established artists, sit through previews, in a quiet corner and observe in silence. His absence is deeply felt, a loss for the entire art fraternity and a personal loss for many. A relation of nearly two decades terminated untimely. Born in the vicinity of brush and canvasses Shamshad succumbed to liver cancer and left back a bequest of masterpieces of artworks and fond memories…