David Hockney at the NGV
Today, in a rare Australian appearance, Britain’s greatest living artist David Hockney unveiled his world-premiere exhibition David Hockney: Current at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
The exhibition features more than 1200 works from the past decade of his career, including world-premiere new works embracing new technologies, such as the iPad and iPhone. These include arresting self-portraits created on the iPad, stunning landscapes of his native Yorkshire and dramatic scenes of Yosemite National Park, hundreds of which are presented both on screens and as prints – some at almost 4m tall.
The exhibition reveals two world premiere new works including one recently completed video work focusing on his recent iPad drawing practice as well as an immersive room installation, 4 blue stools, a digitally constructed image of Hockney’s Hollywood Hills studio presented as floor-to-ceiling wallpaper with specially-created stools and chairs.
David Hockney: Current also features a 60-metre long portrait hall which houses Hockney’s recent body of painting work titled ‘82 portraits and 1 Still Life’ depicting the artist’s family, friends and notable subjects including Barry Humphries, Frank Gehry, John Baldessari and Hockney’s Sydney-based brother, John Hockney.
‘I think it’s an absolutely terrific exhibition,’ said David Hockney. ‘It is the first real exhibition about the iPad and iPhone works. This is the first time I’ve done it on this scale. This exhibition is really a marvelous review of the last ten years of my work.’
‘I’ve been able to practice the iPad a lot in the last few years […] and I’ve really loved mastering it,’ Hockney said.
David Hockney: Current is on display from 11 November 2016 to 13 March 2017.
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