david Hockney exhibition to open in Paris

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Paris Exhibition

David Hockney, one of Britain’s most celebrated living artists, is set to unveil a vast collection of his works at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. The exhibition, which runs from April 9 to September 1, will feature over 400 pieces spanning Hockney’s entire career, from 1955 to the present day. The show will include a wide range of media, from pencil and charcoal drawings to digital compositions, showcasing Hockney’s multidisciplinary talents as a painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer.

Among the highlights will be iconic works such as “A Bigger Splash” and “Portrait of An Artist (Pool with Two Figures),” as well as previously unseen paintings and portraits. Hockney, 87, has been working closely with the exhibition’s curator, Sir Norman Rosenthal, to organize the show. Rosenthal, the former chief curator of the Royal Academy of Arts, has staged numerous ground-breaking exhibitions and considers Hockney to be “one of the great artists,” comparing him to Vincent van Gogh in terms of his contemporary significance.

Hockney’s diverse artistry on display

The exhibition will feature a floor devoted to Hockney’s Normandy paintings, created on iPad and canvas, many of which have not been seen before. These works capture variations in light over different days and seasons.

Additionally, Hockney has created new paintings inspired by art historical figures such as William Blake and Edvard Munch, which will be displayed alongside his classic works. One of the previously unseen paintings, titled “After Blake: Less is Known than People Think,” draws inspiration from Blake’s watercolor interpretation of Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” David Bindman, a leading Blake scholar, noted that Hockney’s choice to depict this particular phase of Dante’s journey suggests a theme of self-discovery. Hockney expressed his excitement about the exhibition, stating, “This exhibition means an enormous amount because it is the largest exhibition I’ve ever had – 11 rooms in the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

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Some of the most recent paintings I’m working on now will be included in it, and I think it’s going to be very good.”

The artist’s prolific energy and passion for his craft are evident, as Rosenthal discovered many previously unseen works in Hockney’s own collection and noted that the artist had created two new paintings during the curator’s brief absence over the Christmas holiday. With some works set to be completed just before the exhibition opens, visitors can expect to see the freshest examples of Hockney’s creative output.

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