Immerse yourself in the fantasy world of the art master🎨

A few days ago, I was completely immersed in the "David Hockney: Bigger, Further" exhibition at the West Bund Art Museum. It's no exaggeration to say it was the most breathtaking exhibition I've seen this year!

David Hockney, born in Bradford, England in 1937, is a highly influential figure in the international art world. He is an artist who uses painting as a visual laboratory. The exhibition hall, a separate screening room on Level 1 (where I watched the 55-minute video), was a welcome revelation upon entering. The 360-degree projections swirled around the room, instantly drawing me into his whimsical artistic world.

A complete analysis of the six chapters of this exhibition! 🎨Perspective Class: From the outset, Hockney transformed himself into an art instructor, giving us a truly extraordinary lesson in perspective! Breaking with the traditional Western rules of single-point perspective, he introduced the "fluid perspective" of Chinese landscape painting, freeing the image from a fixed focal point. Here, you can watch Chinese landscape painting unfold and experience the fascinating interplay of Eastern and Western perspective.

🎭 Painting on the Stage: This chapter presents Hockney's stage designs in dynamic form—stunning! His sets for classic operas like "Tristan und Isolde" feature bold colors and unique perspectives. Giant screens and moving images intertwine, making the actors seem to sing within a flowing painting, allowing us to "see" the music and experience the magical transformation of the opera stage from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional one.

🚗Roads and Trails: Get in the passenger seat of Hockney's car and embark on a road trip! Drive along the straight highways of Los Angeles and onto winding country roads, where the rationality of straight lines and the sensibility of curves blend seamlessly. The scenery on both sides of the road plays like a film, almost as if you can feel the breeze on your face. Every turn is an exploration of unknown landscapes, immersing you in his world.

📷 Painting with a Camera: Hockney breaks the mold with photographic collage. In his work, photographs are no longer slices of time, but rather a magical reorganization of space. Overlaying photos from different directions and moments, time flows through the same frame. He brings frozen images back to life, each photographic painting a story, brimming with truth and wonder.

🏊♂️Swimming Pools: This is Hockney's most iconic series! The iconic blue pool, the splashing water, the California sunshine seem trapped within this body of water. Each ripple and splash of color in these massive pool paintings tells a story of summer. Standing before the paintings, one feels as if one could plunge into the cool pool and feel the embrace of the sun and splashes.

🌳Closer Look at the World: Here, we step into Hockney's microscopic perspective and experience his meticulous observation of life. His brushwork brings even the most overlooked corners of life to life. Every flower, every blade of grass, every brick, every tile, is imbued with a unique vitality, allowing us to re-examine the world around us and discover the beauty in the ordinary. This exhibition is absolutely worth your time! Whether you're a novice or a seasoned art enthusiast, there's something moving and inspiring here.

Post by Thomastw | Sep 12, 2025