David Hockney: In this article, you would know everything about David Hockney- From his childhood to death.
Biography
David Hockney was the fourth of five children and was born in Bradford (England). Wellington Primary School was his primary school from where he cultivated the interest of pop art.
He was from a well to do family, and his father Kenneth Hockney was a conscientious objector at the time of Second World War.
The Life of David Hockney was so stable in childhood. He moved to Los Angeles in 1964 where he started and practiced his painting work. Hockney was inspired to make (paint) a series of paintings of swimming pools.
For the first time he had used vibrant color in his paintings, and here he got recognition countrywide in the field of pop art paintings. And for this artwork, he was commissioned, and then he rented a house. This house was situated in the Hollywood Hills.
David Hockney also owned a very big (1643 square food beach) house at Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Early life and beginnings
David Hockney is a significant contributor in the field of pop art movement who devoted his whole life for the advancement and development of pop art paintings. Hockney was an English painter, printmaker and stage designer. As a pop art artist, he is a very influential British artist of the 20th century.
Hockney is known for painting and photography. In his notable work, we see many paintings works which are following-
- A Bigger Grand Canyon
- Garrowby Hill
- American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman)
- Bigger Trees Near Warter
- Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)
- Peter Getting Out of Nick’s Pool
- Interior with Blue Terrace and Garden 2017
Because of these achievements, he received many awards. Many of these paintings, many became so famous in advertisement industry, and these most expensive artworks of Hockney are displayed (featured) in many art galleries of the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
These are the following awards which were achieved by Hockney.
- John Moores Painting Prize (1967)- It’s a biennial award which is given to best painting.
- Companion of Honour (1997)- Highest honor of Commonwealth realm.
- Royal Academician- It’s an art institute (Burlington House)
- Order of Merit 2012- Armed forces (Encourage promotion culture)
- Honorary Doctorate (1985), Otis College of Art and Design.
His student life was so unusual that it was full of artistic joy and exploration. David Oxtoby, Norman Stevens and John Loker were his fellow students. David Hockney met with R.B Kitaj (American artist), and along with this artist, David Hockney explored many artistic expression.
Personal life
Same as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, Hockney was also a gay who fought for the due rights of the Gay community. He explored the nature and love of “Gays.” In the painting- “We Two Boys Together Clinging” of 1961 which refers the love for men by men.
The painting, devoted to the renaissance of the Gay Liberation movement started by Keith Haring, features two men engaged in whimsical activities. In this painting both men are opposite to each other- one is showering, and another man is washing his back.
Peter Schlesinger was the physical partner of Hockney with whom this artist was romantically involved. Hockney had met Peter Schlesinger in 1966 while teaching at UCLA (The University of California, Los Angeles).
His personal life was not so stable because David Hockney was a drug addict and used to consume alcohol. His favorite cocaine was ecstasy and temazepam. But then also his contribution is huge in the field of the pop art movement.
Public life
David Hockney was a staunch pro-tobacco campaigner who showed keenness in this campaign and also, we see a clear depiction of this campaign in his many paintings. Because of it, BBC Radio had invited Mr. David Hockney.
David Hockney was the guest on BBC Radio’s (Today Programme). Like his father, Hockney was an honest objector. This artist not only campaigned against societal evil but also actively advocated for the pro-tobacco campaign.
In his paintings, David Hockney has depicted many incidents of his life that’s why in 2011, 1,000 British sculptors and painters declared Hockney Britain’s most influential artist of all time.
He was the founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles). This museum is the contemporary art museum. It has three location- Greater Los Angeles and California.
David Hockney as a social activist worked against many social evils– Hockney and other hundred artists had signed an open letter to the secretary (Secretary of State for Culture, Sport and Media). To raise the protest against cutbacks in the arts.
