DAVID HOCKNEY, THE POND IN AUTUMN (1 NOVEMBER 2020) © DAVID HOCKNEY
We could all do with a little positivity right now, and where there is David Hockney, there’s hope.
Back in March, the UK’s leading artist delivered the message that hope springs eternal and spring itself wouldn't be cancelled because of the pandemic, presenting us with a series of new iPad drawings capturing his Normandy surroundings, where he was self-isolating.
Offering a similar message of optimism, he returned with these two new images in November to brighten up the collective mood as we face more months of restrictions and a very different Christmas. This time, the beauty of autumn was the inspiration for his positivity.
Throughout the pandemic, Hockney has been preparing for his next major exhibition, which will open at London’s Royal Academy next year. David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 will open exactly a year after the works were made during the pandemic and celebrate the unfolding of spring, from start to end.
This new body of work features 116 works that have been ‘painted’ on the iPad and then printed onto paper, with Hockney overseeing all aspects of production.
As Hockney himself notes: working on the iPad requires the ability to draw and paint. Each work has been printed far larger than the screen on which it was created to allow you to see every mark and stroke of the artist’s hand.
David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 will run from 27 March – 22 August 2021 at the Royal Academy. Tickets are available to book now here.