At the request of David Hockney Studio and his family, Lightroom will present a series of special showings of David Hockney’s critically acclaimed show, Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away), on the evening of 9th July to mark what would have been the artist’s 89th birthday. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Royal Drawing School, a charity which Hockney supported, rooted in his famous philosophy that drawing “makes you see things clearer”.
Lightroom CEO, Richard Slaney said: “We are honoured to mark David Hockney’s 89th birthday by welcoming visitors to Lightroom. David’s importance to Lightroom cannot be understated – our venue was created specifically to present his work, and he worked tirelessly with us for years – eventually completing the show in our venue as the building work was completed around him. I learnt so much from him – about process, generosity, attention to detail – but most of all about how to truly look and the joy to be found in looking. We hope that much of this is captured in Bigger & Closer, and are pleased to share it with audiences again for a special evening”
Director of the Royal Drawing School, Harry Parkersaid: “We are deeply grateful to Lightroom, David Hockney’s family and Studio for this wonderfully generous tribute. David Hockney was an unwavering champion of the Royal Drawing School from its earliest days and believed profoundly that drawing is fundamental to the way artists learn to see, think and make. His conviction that drawing sharpens our understanding of the world continues to inspire everything we do. We are honoured that the proceeds from these special screenings will support the School’s mission to make high-quality drawing education accessible to artists at every stage of their careers, reflecting David’s lifelong belief in the power of drawing.”
Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) gives audiences a unique opportunity to travel on a personal journey with Hockney through his art and see the world through his eyes. Featuring iconic paintings, alongside rarely seen pieces and bespoke new work created for the space, Hockney’s lifelong fascination with the possibilities of new media is given vibrant expression in a show that invites you to look closely at the world around you.
The show is entirely narrated by Hockney himself, creating a deeply personal connection between you and the artist. In a cycle of six themed chapters, alongside a specially composed score by Nico Muhly, Hockney reveals his process to us. His voice is in our ears as we watch how he experimented with perspective, using photography as a way of ‘drawing with a camera’, capturing the passing of time in his polaroid collages and the joy of spring on his iPad, and showing us why only paint can properly convey the hugeness of the Grand Canyon. We join him on his audio-visual Wagner Drive, roaring up into the San Gabriel Mountains, and into the opera house by means of animated re-creations of his stage designs.
From LA to Yorkshire to Normandy, the show is an unprecedented opportunity to spend time in the presence of one of the great popular geniuses of the art world and see how he innovated and applied beauty and awe to everything he created.
Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) which opened in February 2023, is the result of three years of close collaboration between David Hockney and Lightroom and was directed, written and designed by 59, a Journey studio. It was the first of Lightroom’s repertoire of original, artist-led shows, made with leading artists and innovators, aspiring to be visually astonishing, alive with sound and rich in new perspectives. Since its launch, Bigger & Closer has welcomed over 650,000 guests and continues to tour to new cities across the world.
The special showings will take place on Thursday 9th July from 7pm. Tickets are £25 with proceeds going to the Royal Drawing School. Tickets available now at lightroom.uk.