Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announced the next exhibition in the National Gallery of Victoria’s summer series, an innovative survey of the work of iconic British artist David Hockney. Opening on 11 November, the exhibition will be curated by the NGV in collaboration with David Hockney. It will feature more than 700 works from the past decade, including paintings, digital drawings, photography and video. Many of the works are new, and most have never been seen in Australia.
“David Hockney has been a cultural innovator and influencer for more than 60 years, so this Australian-exclusive exhibition is yet another coup for our country’s most popular gallery, the NGV.” Minister Foley commented.
Minister Foley explained that highlights will include a portrait gallery featuring more than 80 recent portraits of the artist’s family and friends, including Victoria’s own Barry Humphries. The exhibition will also bring Hockney’s largest work, Bigger Trees Near Warter, to Australia for the first time. The work, which will be loaned to the NGV by London’s Tate Britain, is made up of fifty oil-on-canvas panels. The exhibition will be the fourth in the National Gallery of Victoria’s ‘NGV Contemporary Summer’ series which is supported by the Andrews Labor Government.
“It is a privilege to collaborate with David Hockney, one of the world’s most celebrated and truly innovative artists, to develop this exhibition which features dynamic new works and highlights of his oeuvre from the past decade. His recent use of cutting-edge technology will provide an immersive experience for visitors and reveal the mastery and skill behind his ever-evolving practice.” Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV commented.
Mr. Ellwood pointed out that other highlights of the exhibition include Bigger Trees Near Warter, Hockney’s largest painting comprised of fifty oil on canvas panels, and the centrepiece of Hockney’s hugely popular exhibition Bigger Picture at the Royal Academy, London and now owned by the Tate. Transforming the gallery, the three remaining walls of this space will display 1:1 digital versions of the same work and it will be the first time that this major work has been exhibited in Australia.