I have always been interested and inspired by the works of David Hockney, I studied him briefly in Art History A-Level and also went to an exhibition at the Tate Britain in February 2017, showing his greatest works which was an inspirational experience.
Recently, I read on the news about Hockney’s painting selling for $90m at a New York auction, making him break the record for a living artist. His painting ‘ Portrait of an artist (Pool with Two Figures)’ sold after just minutes of bidding to an online bidder whose identity has not yet been revealed. The painting was guessed to sell at $80m but outreached this price, breaking the record for a living artist.
Hockney is one of the most influential British artists, his artwork focusing on swimming pools, landscapes and portraiture. His paintings show his desire and love for Los Angeles after moving there from Yorkshire, England. The well known artwork that sold for $90m shows a man, interpreted as Hockney’s ex-lover standing at the edge of a pool looking at the figure swimming towards him, possibly a new lover. Hockney’s artwork usually consists of personal emotion and experiences, his artwork is notorious for the Los Angeles landscape and the incorporation of double portraiture. Hockney’s ex-lover dismisses this interpretation as he says the man in the image is not him and says that it isn’t anyone special to Hockney and is just a anonymous figure.
BETHAN SANDALL 