David Hockney, aged 88, has opened a new exhibition in London titled “Some Very, Very, Very New Paintings Not Yet Shown in Paris”, featuring bright, dynamic works that defy his age and wheelchair use. At the opening night, he explained how he paints large canvases by turning them on their side, demonstrating his inventive spirit. Dressed in a bespoke tweed suit, he was accompanied by his great-nephew Richard, also in tweed, who serves as both family member and assistant.
The centrepiece is a double portrait of Hockney and Richard, described as dazzling and full of zest. The show marks the most developed stage yet of Hockney’s “reverse perspective” technique, where objects further away appear larger and parallel lines diverge towards the viewer. The works echo the colourful exuberance of Pierre Bonnard and the decisive perspective of Van Gogh, with one piece titled Vincent’s Chair and Gauguin’s Chair radiating psychedelic energy.
Before the show, Hockney held court on the pavement with a cigarette, discussing perspective, smoking restrictions, and Caravaggio. The new portraits are startling and warm, revisiting faces of friends young and old, exploring joy from what he sees. The exhibition also includes The Moon Room, a selection of iPad works from 2020 created in Normandy, capturing stillness and luminosity.
The show will travel to Paris. Prices for Hockney’s paintings reach seven figures, with few for sale, making this a fleeting opportunity to see the undiminished zest of an ageing master. Hockney, who wears a badge saying “end bossiness soon”, continues his quest, stating: “I still find the world beautiful, and I still find new ways to appreciate that and capture it.”
