The subject matter may have changed over the years but the
exhibition with the addition of some older key art works allows us to see his evolution.
The photographic collage of Pearblossom Highway (1986) seems to be the
beginning of his exploration into viewing a subject from different angles and has
progressed into the spell binding visual journey through the Wolds captured in
18 different angles.
The iPad drawings were of key interest to me as I feel it
acts as another conformation of his investigation into newer technologies using
them to a new advantage in relation to his art. The iPad drawings also act as a
significant affirmation to drawing as a legitimate art form (as I still feel as
though it is disparaged even after the efforts of successful artists and competitions
such as the Jerwood Drawing Prize). Their immensity within this exhibition is
an encouragement to emerging artists (like myself) to continue to produce
contemporary drawings and fight for their prominent place within the arts.
Of course the title to the exhibition makes us as a viewer
reflect on the exhibition as a whole image celebrating David Hockney as the
first artist to have been allowed so much space to fill in the Royal Academy. Indeed
the title makes us contemplate ‘the bigger picture’ of the outside world and
think of many other things such as going beyond the art into the beauty of the
landscape which is still here despite the gloom of national politics!
The landscape of East Yorkshire is the place where I have
grown and still remain; I recognised the places where these art works were
created and this gave me pride to have someone like David Hockney recognise the
beauty that I already knew is there.
For me David Hockney is one of the exceptions to the rule as
after all these years he has still proven that you can be innovative and push
your artistic practice, this exhibition is testament to this and well worth
viewing before it closes!
