Tim Birch

WHAT can be deciphered here are modern day examples of what is known in art history terms as Narrative Painting. That ought to be self-explanatory, but a momentary flashback to the Renaissance may aid our memories.

It was really the Venetian 'Eye-Witness' style that gave birth to narrative painting. That which had a penchant for Naturalism, including recognisable details, extraordinary in their scope of what has become such a trendy term, 'the everyday' - e.g. some pots here, a dog there: subjects that rooted the image in the 'real world' of the time as 'a slice of reality' that spoke to 'everyone.'

This broke new ground in that what would have been viewed as uncouth imagery prior to those days, was now acceptable. Gone, but not forgotten, were the allegorical misrepresentations of some fantasy, sanitised Earth.

So why am I blundering on like some dinosaur toff? There is method to my madness. For the evident fact of the matter is that Bhupen Khakhar offers up here a fine, faithful take on narrative painting. Much of the imagery may be foreign to me, but the style, an imaginative realism, speaks volumes: Of complex, contemporary societies merged with traditional Hindu visual grammar.

Bhupen is indeed based in India. And controversy seems to be his middle name if you believe the press. Maybe in the Indian sub-continent context, Bhupen is a controversial artist - being openly gay. Here, what is of interest is that for 30-odd years now he's been a good painter giving a much overlooked tradition new life.

Bhupen Khakhar: A retrospective is at The Lowry, until Sunday, January 5.

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