Earlier this week members of the Innova Art team were invited to attend the patrons view of 82 Portraits and One Still Life. The latest exhibition from David Hockney features a riot of colour and a compelling theme.
This is the first major exhibition by David Hockney at the Royal Academy since his Yorkshire landscapes show in 2012. Since then he has returned to his Los Angeles studio. This portrait series represents a return to a genre that has had a prominent place in his long career.
The portraits in the exhibition were produced in a three day period over two years. David Hockney invited each sitter to his Los Angeles studio; every painting features the same chair and share backgrounds in various shades of blue. Saturated colours in the paintings invite viewers to immerse themselves in the images. Arranged in near chronological order of production, the exhibition space creates an intimate environment to view the paintings.
Hockney describes the paintings as a ‘twenty hour exposure’, the maximum amount of time he felt he could ask from anyone. In total there are more than 90 portraits in this series, including some sitters who were painted twice. All produced since the summer of 2013, with just twenty hours dedicated to each one. Every sitter was invited to participate; they are family, friends and close associates of the artist. Describing his friends as his celebrities, Hockney has created a rare insight into his life and the respect he has for the people around him.
Every painting started with a charcoal sketch on canvas to fix the pose in place. Hockney then used acrylic paint with a high gel content to ensure that he could work with the paint for as long as possible. He describes this work as painting what he sees, implying that everyone sees the world differently, through a lens distorted by many different experiences. The resulting exhibition of portraits has a feeling of psychological intensity. It is as if a small part of each sitter has been captured for the viewer to see.
It is clear that each individual felt comfortable during the process. Each painting also reveals something about the artist himself. The application of the acrylic paint on the canvas combined with the tight hanging arrangement of the paintings captures the intensity of the process. From a distance the portraits capture the personality of each sitter; through the pose of the figure, facial features or their own personal style.
Jim McHugh, a long-time friend of Innova Art, was kind enough to invite us to the event.
Jim and Chloe McHugh with their portraits on display as part of David Hockney’s latest exhibition
Both Jim and his daughter Chloe are featured in the exhibition. Sharing their experience with us, they said it was a pleasure to watch Hockney work. Jim McHugh told us about Hockney’s strong work ethic, how David was ready to work as soon as Jim arrived at the studio at 9am each morning of the three days required to paint his portrait. Jim also shared with us the passion that David Hockney has for his work. It is hard to believe that Hockney will be turning 80 next year. Watching him meet and greet the visitors to his latest exhibition, his passion and excitement were clear.
The one still life? That was painted when one sitter was unable to make the appointment for their portrait. Hockney was primed and ready to paint so looked to what was available in the studio – a selection of fruit and vegetables.
The exhibition opens to the public on July 2nd 2016 and closes on October 2nd. If you are in London this exhibition is well worth a visit. The opportunity to gain an insight into the extraordinary talents of an artist like David Hockney should not be missed. Click here to book tickets through the Royal Academy website.
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