What's happened
David Hockney's largest exhibition, 'David Hockney 25', opened on April 9, 2025, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. The show features over 400 works spanning his career from 1955 to 2025, showcasing his evolution as an artist. Controversy arose over an advertisement featuring Hockney smoking, which was banned by Paris transport authorities.
What's behind the headline?
Exhibition Overview
- 'David Hockney 25' is touted as the most significant exhibition of Hockney's career, featuring a diverse range of works including paintings, iPad drawings, and immersive installations.
- The exhibition spans Hockney's entire career, showcasing his adaptability and evolution as an artist.
Cultural Significance
- The show underscores Paris's ambition to reclaim its status as Europe's art capital, especially in light of recent exhibitions that have drawn significant attention.
- Hockney's work resonates with themes of nature and personal experience, making it relatable to a broad audience.
Controversy and Censorship
- The ban on using a photograph of Hockney smoking for promotional purposes raises questions about censorship in art and public expression.
- Hockney's response reflects a broader critique of societal norms regarding smoking and personal freedom, emphasizing the tension between artistic expression and public health policies.
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, Philip Oltermann highlights the exhibition's ambition, stating it includes works from Hockney's entire career, while Jonathan Jones emphasizes the artist's ability to capture beauty in nature despite challenges. The Independent reports on the controversy surrounding the advertisement featuring Hockney smoking, with Hockney himself calling the ban 'complete madness.' This reflects a clash between artistic freedom and public health regulations, a theme echoed in various articles discussing the exhibition's significance.
How we got here
Hockney, now 87, has had a prolific career spanning seven decades, with his works reflecting various styles and themes. The exhibition aims to highlight his artistic journey, coinciding with renewed interest in his work in France following previous retrospectives.
Go deeper
- What are the highlights of Hockney's career?
- How has Hockney's work evolved over the years?
- What other exhibitions are happening in Paris?
Common question
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What Are the Key Themes in David Hockney's 456 Works?
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What is the controversy surrounding Hockney's latest exhibition?
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What are the highlights of David Hockney's Paris exhibition?
David Hockney's latest exhibition, 'David Hockney 25', at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, is a monumental showcase of his artistic journey. Featuring 456 works spanning from 1955 to 2025, this exhibition not only highlights Hockney's evolution as an artist but also sparks discussions around contemporary art and its promotion. Below are some common questions about this significant event.
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What are the highlights of David Hockney's '25' exhibition?
David Hockney's latest exhibition, 'David Hockney 25', opened on April 9, 2025, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. This major showcase features over 400 works from Hockney's extensive career, highlighting his artistic evolution from 1955 to 2025. The exhibition has sparked discussions not only about Hockney's art but also about the controversies surrounding it, including a banned advertisement featuring the artist. Below are some common questions people have about this significant event.
More on these topics
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Paris is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,150,271 residents as of 2020, in an area of 105 square kilometres.