Tuesday 17 January 2012

I'm sure once you've seen it, you'll look forward to the spring a little more. I hope you'll notice more things .... and it can happen anywhere in England, you don't have to go to Woldgate. Most people think this is a perfectly ordinary little lane, nothing much, really. So you can see it anywhere in England - and I think it will maybe make you observe it a little more and I think that would be thrilling, actually. You'd get a thrill. Isn't that a good thing? I would think so.
(David Hockney)

This has to be one of the most joyful, vibrant, life-affirming exhibitions that I have ever seen and I shouldn't think there was a single person at the Royal Academy today who'd agree with this niggardly reviewer in the Telegraph who gave it a begrudging 3*. I got a thrill. I came away wishing that I could go on a fantasy road trip with Hockney, Constable and Turner, and maybe we should ask Matisse and Cézanne to come along ... and, of course, we'd give everybody an iPad. Imagine what Matisse would have done with an iPad.

What technology needs is imaginative, mad people to start using it ... and that's going to happen.

The iPad drawing above was made on January 2 last year, one of a breathtaking 52-part work called The Arrival of Spring.

8 comments:

Cornflower said...

I'd like to see that show - enjoyed the clip of Hockney talking about it on the RA website.

mary said...

It was wonderful, Cornflower. I'll definitely go back because it's so huge that even though I was there for nearly three hours, I still didn't have time to see everything.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so very much for including that image Mary, it has uplifted my heart and brought a tear of joy to my eye. Mr Hockney has a wonderful way with line and colour and I admire him tremendously. I wish that I could get to the exhibition but it is not possible. I am so pleased that you enjoyed it so much.

mary said...

I'm sorry you won't be able to make it, Toffeeapple. It was indeed uplifting and a blast of spring to the spirit ... which I needed, having felt rather stodgy and lethargic since Christmas. I came away feeling immensely cheered by the colour that is all around us even in winter.

Anonymous said...

I am so pleased that it had that effect on you.

mary said...

There was a real stinker of a review in tonight's Standard, Toffeeapple. But I'm still enjoying the thought of all that colour.

Eggs on the Roof said...

Stuff the Standard - the mrs miniver's daughter review is the one I always prefer to rely on. It sounds stupendous - I can't wait

mary said...

Charlie, I bet Brian Sewell is quaking in his boots!