Modern Indian artist S H Raza passes away

New Delhi, July 23: Iconic Indian artist Syed Haider Raza, known for his abstracts, passed away on Saturday at the age of 94. Raza's works had very rich use of color, replete with icons from Indian cosmology as well as its philosophy.

Raza is touted as one of Indian modern art's greatest painters. He was a founder-member of the Progressive Artists' Group that wished to break with the revivalist nationalism established by the Bengal school of art and to encourage an Indian avant-garde engaged at an international level.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013. He was also conferred with the highest French civilian honour, the Commandeur de la Legion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) in 2015.

He became one of India's priciest modern artists in June 2010 when his seminal work, "Saurashtra" was sold for Rs 16.42 crore at a Christie's auction.

Raza was in the ICU of a private hospital for the last two months.

IANS