City-based artist Sunilkumar dies of Covid complications

Thiruvananthapuram: Noted painter and sculptor G Sunilkumar, 61, died of Covid-19 at a private hospital early on Wednesday. After developing post-Covid pneumonia he was admitted to the hospital on May 22. Sunilkumar breathed his last after suffering a major cardiac arrest.
Sunilkumar was associated with Arteria, a city beautification project launched in 2015.His paintings had adorned the walls of the important institutions in the city. During his last years, he along with his wife Saji ran an Art Café at Kovalam Junction. The café that aimed to attract western audience has an art gallery and library attached to it. He had taught in various fine arts institutions, including RLV College, Tripunithura, College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, and College of Architecture, Thiruvananthapuram.
“We used to travel together a lot. During his college days, he specialized in sculpture and used to do marvellous portraits using clay. And later he had developed his own style in painting. He had done many passionate works on Kovalam and Vizhinjam. I have never seen such a style of painting in my life. He was also into literature, cinema, Carnatic and Hindustani music. He always approached people with a beautiful smile. More than an artist he was a nice human being who loved to socialize with everyone,” said Sunilkumar’s close friend and artist Shibu Natesan.