David Hockney: 82 Portraits and 1 Still life, is a tour de force.
Let me be honest… there’ve been times that I haven’t loved the work of David Hockney, namely the time that I saw his large scale landscape in Paris, possibly at the Pompidou Center. While that particular installation was colorful, it felt crudely executed when in the presence of the more traditional fine art paintings in that gallery. I wanted to love it… but I didn’t.
That said, these current works are both energizing and poignant, and had me smiling from the moment I walked into the gallery. The shear force of all of that color flooded my eyes and made for an amazing presentation . The alternating background colors behind his subjects, in shades of blues and greens, hanging against the saturated red-orange gallery wall, created a visual rhythm between each portrait. The overall gestalt was one of strength and happiness. However, after looking at each portrait up close, a deeper sense of appreciation emerged. While the brush work was loose, the proportion and perspective was spot on. And then of course there’s the emotional life of each of his subjects.
Rita Pynoos: Friend of David Hockney
Benedikt Taschen: Founder and managing director of the publishing house Taschen, one of the most successful international publishers.
Larry Gagosian: Owner Gagosian Gallery, an upscale chain of art galleries.
Margaret Hockney: Sibling to David Hockney
John Baldessari: American conceptual artist featured in more than 200 solo exhibits in the U.S. and Europe.
Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima: Studio manager for David Hockney
Eighty two friends and business associates agreed to sit for Mr. Hockney in his Hollywood Hills art studio, for up to 3 days per portrait. The Still Life seen above was created on the day that one of his guests wasn’t able to make the scheduled sitting. For any artist to take on a project like this, it’s a remarkable and ambitious feat. Hockney just turned 80. I can’t imagine taking on a project like this at the age of 75. Hockney says that when he’s in his studio painting, he feels 30 again… so naturally he spends as much time there as he can.
Organized by the Royal Academy in conjunction with LACMA, the exhibit opened in London in 2016, then traveled to Venice, Italy: Bilboa, Spain: and Melbourne, Australia. The only U.S. stop is L.A. and will close on July 29, 2018.
If you live here in LA, I highly urge you to attend this exhibition… you may find yourself inclined to visit it more than once. Personally, I can’t stop thinking about the show.
LACMA exhibit info.