ART & EXHIBITIONS
David Hockney pictured in Los Angeles last year
David Hockney is 80 in July but he has never been so popular – or worked so hard. The biggest exhibition of his work is now open at the Tate Britain and looks at his evolution from a student to become arguably Britain’ s greatest living artist. Hockney, clearly moved by the public’ s continued interest in his work, said after he helped choose the 250 pieces of artwork that will be on display:“ Many of them seem like old friends to me now.”
This exhibition offers an unprecedented look at the artist’ s work to date. Presented as a chronological overview, it traces his development from the moment of his appearance on the public stage as a student in 1961, through to his iconic works of the 1960s and 1970s, and on to his recent success at the Royal Academy and beyond.
Looking around the exhibition before it opened, Hockney, who still paints every day and recently said he was in his most prolific period, said modestly:“ I made some quite good pictures, didn’ t I?”
The show, which includes more than 100 works, made over more than half a century, is the first major look at his career in almost 30 years. It includes sketches from his time at art school to works drawn on his iPad at home in California last year. In a recent newspaper interview he said:“ When I’ m painting I feel 30 but when I stop I feel older. I’ m a bit slower than I was but I stand up to paint every day.” R
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