David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
One of the world’s most influential living artists, David Hockney, once claimed: “I believe that the very process of looking can make a thing beautiful.” A new retrospective dedicated to the British artist beautifully proves this point, inviting visitors not only to look but to plunge head first into his art.
Originally staged at London’s Lightroom in 2022, Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) has now been brought to Aviva Studios, a vast warehouse space located in Manchester and run by Factory International. The groundbreaking exhibition presents an evocative journey through 60 years of Hockney’s art, uniting work that’s iconic, less well-known, and previously unseen.
Unlike a traditional exhibition, Bigger & Closer escapes the confines of the frame. Hockney’s art dances across the warehouse’s walls and floor, creating a multi-sensory atmosphere teeming with bold colors and vibrant environments. At one point, the room fills with a painting of swimmers, the miraculous blue of the canvas washing over visitors as if they, too, are swimming through the water. At another point, landscape photographs emerge, capturing empty yet tranquil scenes of forest paths.
The exhibition’s range is as impressive as its immersive nature. Works span everything from Hockney’s photographs and polaroid collages to his experiments with perspective and his iPad drawings. Whether it be from his Los Angeles period or more recently created pieces in Normandy, the featured material showcases Hockney’s immense command over several media, subjects, and moods.
To enhance the exhibition’s intimacy, a deeply personal commentary by Hockney himself is paired with an original score by Nico Muhly. As the track echoes throughout the space, visitors encounter Hockney’s artwork and creative philosophy with unprecedented immediacy. Every detail in Bigger & Closer works in tandem to communicate Hockney’s artistic vision, offering a comprehensive glimpse into his inner world.
“I’m very happy that my exhibition is going to Factory International and that more people in the UK will be able to see my pictures bigger & closer than before,” Hockney said in a statement.
Bigger & Closer is slated to run through January 25, 2025, with standard tickets on sale from £20 (about $25.50). Affordable options are also available via Factory International’s website.
A new retrospective focusing on renowned artist David Hockney is now on view at Aviva Studios in Manchester.
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
The exhibition, titled Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away), is an immersive journey into Hockney’s six-decade career.
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
Bigger & Closer features a wide range of projects, each of which are showcased on the walls and floor of the gallery space.
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).
David Hockney, “Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away),” at Aviva Studios, Manchester (Photo: Justin Sutcliffe).