A Deep Pleasure
The Art of David Hockney (1927-2026)
I compiled this brief selection of Hockney's work a few days after his death at the age of 88. His whole life revolved around the art of looking, then tirelessly drawing and painting what he saw. 'Art should be a deep pleasure,' he said. 'If you see the world as beautiful, thrilling and mysterious, then you feel alive.'
In the early 1960's he abandoned 'boring old England' for the sunlight, freedom and youth of LA..'California in my mind was a sunny land of movie studios and beautiful semi-naked people.'
Most of the images here are of his male friends and lovers -- in the shower, in the pool, in bed. But there are a couple of examples of his wonderful landscapes, from the Grand Canyon to the Yorkshire Wolds. As he said, 'We are always fascinated by visual magic.'