Sinners and Worshippers

Born in Hyderabad, Shahid Rassam is known and respected as a marvelous painter and sculptor. Rassam who expresses his thought using his subtle and delicate colors and lines praises his mother for being first mentor, she raised the artist inside him in his early life. “She taught him about paint and life” Rassam says, “never imagining the small seed she had planted in his fertile imagination would blossom into an exotic garden, which would become the Pride of Pakistan”.

Rassam’s life takes a turn when he was three his family moved to Karachi. In Karachi he grew up in a literature loving atmosphere that further nourished the artist's soul with poetry and color. He was in school when he met Sadequain, the world renowned Pakistani calligrapher and painter. His mentors include great writers such as humorist Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, satirist Anwar Maqsood and Urdu poet Jaun Elia. It was Jaun Elia who gave Shahid the title of 'Rassam' an Arabic word that means 'the artist'.

Rassam’s paintings and sculptures reflect world realities thus inspire human being to make it a better place for ourselves and the generations to come. He has won awards for his work but decided some years ago to stop entering competitions because, as he says, “no one person can judge an artist's subconscious”.

On the occasion of Shahid Rassam’s painting exhibition in Washington, DC, USA in 2011, Pakistani diplomat Hussain Haqqani said;
Shahid has portrayed his entire work as if it is an ongoing dialogue, with self and society which draws its inspiration from the community, local and global, as he equally belongs to both”, said Haqqani. “The greatness of his work thus lies in its profound appeal to many different groups.”

At the same occasion Rassam said;
“The most startling character among my paintings is the one known as the worshipper. He has apparently immersed himself in the act of praying to God, but when I see him up close I get disturbed”, said Rassam. “This is a tale of Sinners and Worshippers who seemingly prostrate before God but their Imam is the currency note, and they do not discriminate between dollar, euro or Yuan.”

Gulzar and Rassam
Shahid Rassam is currently working on a major series of paintings based on the works of the great Urdu poets Ghalib and Gulzar.

Shahid Rassam has visited to more than 35 countries around the world and exhibited in. He is working in and has studio in Pakistan, Canada, USA and in UAE as well. Shahid Rassam's website address www.shahidrassam.com