david hockney celebrates the arrival of spring with two exhibitions

david hockey, one of the most important and inventive british artists of the 20th century, is presenting two different shows this month, both showcasing his iPad drawings. the first one will be held at london’s royal academy of the arts and surveys through 116 works the unfolding of spring. the second one comprises a new video work titled remember you cannot look at the sun or death for very long, and it will be displayed on outdoor screens in london, new york, seoul and tokyo.

images by david hockney

throughout his career, david hockney has investigated new technologies and explores different ways to make art — in 2007 he started using his iPhone before adopting the iPad in 2010. made in the spring of 2020 at his home in normandy, the exhibition charts the unfolding of the season, from beginning to end, celebrating its beauty. the exhibition, which is set to open on the 23rd of may 2021, features 116 works painted on the iPad and the printed onto paper, with the artist overseeing all aspects of the production.

as hockney himself notes: working on the iPad requires the ability to draw and paint. each work – which has been printed far larger than the screen on which it was created – allows you to see every mark and stroke of the artist’s hand.

the second show has been unveiled across a network of the world’s most iconic outdoor video screens in new york, los angeles, london, tokyo and seoul. david hockney’s remember you cannot look at the sun or death for very long brings a digital sunrise to the worldwide locations, offering a powerful symbol of hope and collaboration. created also during quarantine in normandy, the video offers the opportunity for a spontaneous encounter with hockney’s meditation on the arrival of spring.

‘what does the world look like? we have to take time to see its beauty. that’s what I hope my work will encourage people to do when they see it on the large screens.’ — david hockney.

images courtesy of times square art

exhibition info:

name: david hockney: the arrival of spring, normandy, 2020

location: royal academy of the arts, london

dates: 23 may — 26 september 2021

name: remember you cannot look at the sun or death for very long

london: piccadilly lights, europe’s largest screen at 20:21bst
new york: times square across 70+ electronic billboards, at 23:57est
seoul: coex k-pop square led screen at 20:21kst
japan: yunika vision, shinjuku at 09:00jst
online via: the circa.art website every evening at 20:21bst