Howard Hodgkin. In conversation - ACE121.3

Caption: "In a French Restaurant 1977-79." The painting. Hodgkin VO says that in recent years his subject matter has increasingly become things in which he is "passionately and personally involved". Hodgkin outside a gramophone shop where The Banana Boat Song plays loudly. Caption: "Foy Nissen’s, Bombay 1975-78." The painting. Hodgkin talks about portraits being "an accumulation of experience". Waterside scenes in Bombay. Foy Nissen VO saying he’s taken Hodgkin to places he likes but which are off the beaten track. Women on the mezzanine above the tomb. Cluttered back yard, run down buildings. Hodgkin in café; his VO says "the emotional situations … which would lead to paintings are not something that [he] would deliberately set up". Caption: "Reading the Letter 1977-80." The painting. Hodgkin talks about this as being particularly admired at a show in New York, and describes it as representing "a very unpleasant experience" deriving from hearing "a letter written to someone else… read aloud". Caption: "Tea 1977-80." The painting, "…totally voyeuristic", "an extraordinary situation" in which he was regaled with the life story of a male prostitute. "… the last voyeuristic painting. They’re much more about myself now, or incidents that personally involve me, at least". Painting. Studio. Buffalo outside house. Caption: "From the House of Bhupen Khakhar 1975-76." The painting. Bhupen Khakar, resting a splinted leg, talks about being inspired by paintings by Mantegna to do "a big painting", Celebration of Guru Jayanti (1980). He and Hodgkin discuss it. Hodgkin explains how he works out the figures in his paintings. Other images by Khakhar. They discuss From the House of Bhupen Khakhar.