view counter

Bhupen Khakhar: Truth Is Beauty at the Tate Modern

At a glance
Add to calendar
Time 15:00
Date 02/07/16
Price £12
  • Produced by Tate
  • Price £12
  • Get ready to hear a panel of experts delve into Bhupen Khakhar’s hugely influential work and thought processes
  • Bring along your best listening ears
  • Surf to Tickets
  • See you at Tate Modern

As part of the Tate Modern’s landmark exhibition into the work of Bhupen Khakhar, join curators and specialists to discuss the artist’s practice, life, and visual language.

From the beginning of his artistic career, Bhupen Khakhar expressed a commitment to presenting the world as he saw it and experienced it.

Often celebrated for his bold and honest approach to his life and homosexuality in India during the late twentieth century, he stated in the catalogue to his 1972 exhibition at Gallery Chemould, Bombay that he wanted to reach beauty by truth alone.

This talk takes its name after the same exhibition and self-written catalogue, Truth Is Beauty and Beauty Is God. Bringing together three speakers who offer a unique insight into a specific period of the artist’s career, this panel discussion aims to introduce and situate the artist’s practice and life within his particular contexts.

Themes explored include Khakhar’s use of the biography, iconography, the visual language of the street, and more broadly his personal experiences in and of modern India. Speakers include Geeta Kapur, Sonal Khullar and Karin Zitzewitz, and is chaired by Chris Dercon. In partnership with Paul Mellon Centre and Asia Art Archive.

About the exhibition

Renowned for his unique figurative style and incisive observations of class and sexuality, Bhupen Khakhar (1934-2003) played a central role in modern Indian art and was a key international figure in 20th century painting. This landmark exhibition showcases vivid works on canvas, luminous watercolour paintings and experimental ceramics.

An accountant-turned-artist, Bhupen Khakhar demonstrated a commitment to representing his world with unflinching honesty. High and low merged in narrative paintings with influences ranging from devotional aesthetics and street culture to European painting and pop art. He confronted provocative themes, particularly his homosexuality, with rare sensitivity and wit.

Haunting portraits of ordinary men and last works describing his struggle with cancer express a rare humanity. Bringing together Khakhar’s work from across five decades and collections around the world for the first time since his death, this is a unique opportunity to discover his extraordinary work and inspirational story.

view counter