“Sex is part of life. We believe it should be portrayed openly and directly.” These were the words of the fearless, outspoken, and controversial Indian painter Bhupen Khakhar. He is regarded as an LGBTQ+ icon for officially announcing his sexual orientation in the 1980s and paving a way for the future generation. His thought-provoking art explored various themes, mainly the Indian class struggle between the bourgeoisie and lower orders.
His work was labelled as vile and vulgar.
Bhupen Khakhar was one of the most influential and thought-provoking artists of modern India. He was born on 10 March 1934 in an artisan family from the Portuguese colony of Diu. He attended the University of Bombay where he studied B.A., as he was always interested in arts. Still, his family's insistence led him to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and dishearteningly worked at Bharat Parikh & Associates in Baroda, Gujarat. Even while he was working, his love for art never died. In his free time, he regularly caught up on Hindu mythology, literature, and visual arts.
In 1958, he met Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh who introduced him to The Faculty of Fine Arts in Baroda. There, Bhupen decided to devote all his efforts and time to the arts and started working on his dreams. His first exhibition was in 1963, and his work consisted of Hindu deities cut from popular prints of Raja Ravi Varma, glued onto mirrors accompanied by glitters and graffiti. His first solo exhibition was in 1965. Bhupen started gathering recognition for his works both from the general audience as well as the artistic community.
Bhupen Khakhar was widely known for his meticulous portrayal of Indian streets and daily lives with vivid and descriptive backgrounds. He was influenced by the British Pop movement, but Khakhar instead of just blindly copying it, “made it in the most Indian way”. He knew that the only way the art would resonate with the people of India was by translating it into the deep-rooted culture and history. By 1967, he was proclaimed India’s first pop artist. In 1979, he went to London to teach for several months, where he met artists like Howard Hodgkin and David Hockney. By 1980, he was known worldwide for his art and started presenting solo exhibitions around the globe.
In a country like India, where homosexuality is still considered a taboo subject, Khakhar fearlessly announced his sexual identity as a gay individual. His artwork often portrayed the daily lives of homosexuals, the cultural backlash, and general criticism.
He explored his sexuality through art, which is not commonly shown in media, both the erotic and sensual manifestations. Bhupen Khakar's art also portrayed class differences through vivid imagery, bold colours, and emotive expressions. His works highlight the struggle of the marginalized and underprivileged sections of society, capturing their daily lives and struggle with honesty and empathy. Through his paintings, Khakar brings attention to the socio-economic inequalities and the plight of the oppressed, creating a powerful commentary on the class divide in India.
He faced much criticism and overly controversial statements after coming out in 1980, and his work was labelled as vile and vulgar.
In 1986, Bhupen Khakhar was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri. In 2000, Khakhar was honoured with the Prince Claus Award at the Royal palace of Amsterdam. Despite all the awards and accolades, Bhupen was deeply hurt by the title of possibly the most provocative painter in contemporary Indian art. He talked about the tag of "gay painter" and how it affected his mental state. Bhupen Khakhar passed away on 8 August 2003 at the age of 69 due to cancer in Baroda. Even after his death, many of his works have not seen the light of day in media galleries due to their homoerotic nature.
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