BHUPEN KHAKHAR (1934-2004)

Bhupen Khakhar created a Bollywood series of three double-sided cut-outs for Tate Modern, London, including this work. Made in collaboration with a former student at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Baroda, named Vaman Rao Khaire, the artists examined the role of consumerism, hedonism and the cult of celebrity at the turn of the twenty-first century, here drawing upon the cult-like status of Shahrukh Khan. Creating a localized discourse of art versus popular culture, Khakhar's characteristic style is evident on one side, more sympathetically decoding and deconstructing a persona; whilst on the other side a stereotypical, kitsch portrait of the actor is garishly presented.