A Bigger Message

The bestselling book of conversations between David Hockney and art critic Martin Gayford as they explore the nature of creativity. David Hockney’s exuberant work is highly praised and widely loved, but he was also something else: an incisive and original thinker on art. In this now classic book, filled with anecdote, insight, passion and wit, Hockney reveals the fruits of his lifelong meditations on the problems and paradoxes of representing a three-dimensional world on a flat surface. Compiled from a decade and a half of conversations with art critic Martin Gayford, it reflects a period in which Hockney relocated from Los Angeles to his native East Yorkshire. Their exchanges communicate the immense delight and inspiration that Hockney finds in the changing seasons and natural splendours of this sparsely inhabited corner of England – a delight that is, in the words of Margaret Drabble, ‘an invitation to us all to look better, see better, enjoy more’.

The bestselling book of conversations between David Hockney and art critic Martin Gayford as they explore the nature of creativity. David Hockney’s exuberant work is highly praised and widely loved, but he was also something else: an incisive and original thinker on art. In this now classic book, filled with anecdote, insight, passion and wit, Hockney reveals the fruits of his lifelong meditations on the problems and paradoxes of representing a three-dimensional world on a flat surface. Compiled from a decade and a half of conversations with art critic Martin Gayford, it reflects a period in which Hockney relocated from Los Angeles to his native East Yorkshire. Their exchanges communicate the immense delight and inspiration that Hockney finds in the changing seasons and natural splendours of this sparsely inhabited corner of England – a delight that is, in the words of Margaret Drabble, ‘an invitation to us all to look better, see better, enjoy more’.

'David Hockney reveals what drives him' Telegraph David Hockney’s exuberant work is highly praised and widely loved, but he was also something else: an incisive and original thinker on art. In this remarkable book, a record of a decade and a half of conversations with art critic Martin Gayford, Hockney reveals via reflection, anecdote, passion and wit the fruits of his lifelong meditations on the problems and paradoxes of representing a three-dimensional world on a flat surface. Their conversations are punctuated by wise and witty observations from both parties on other artists, and enlivened by shrewd insights into some of the diverse people Hockney has encountered along the way. This updated and expanded edition follows the preparations for the successful ‘A Bigger Picture’ exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2012, the works done subsequently in Hockney’s native Yorkshire and his return to Los Angeles in 2013. Visiting him there, Gayford depicts both the sitter’s and the artist’s world as he has his own portrait painted by the artist. Indulging the reader throughout by sharing Hockney’s sense of humour, Gayford finishes the book commenting and chatting with Hockney as he paints works depicting people in movement: dancers and jugglers. In his quest for a bigger and better picture of the world, Hockney remains very busy: ‘I don’t have a diary because it’s always full already,’ he tells us.

'David Hockney reveals what drives him' Telegraph David Hockney’s exuberant work is highly praised and widely loved, but he was also something else: an incisive and original thinker on art. In this remarkable book, a record of a decade and a half of conversations with art critic Martin Gayford, Hockney reveals via reflection, anecdote, passion and wit the fruits of his lifelong meditations on the problems and paradoxes of representing a three-dimensional world on a flat surface. Their conversations are punctuated by wise and witty observations from both parties on other artists, and enlivened by shrewd insights into some of the diverse people Hockney has encountered along the way. This updated and expanded edition follows the preparations for the successful ‘A Bigger Picture’ exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2012, the works done subsequently in Hockney’s native Yorkshire and his return to Los Angeles in 2013. Visiting him there, Gayford depicts both the sitter’s and the artist’s world as he has his own portrait painted by the artist. Indulging the reader throughout by sharing Hockney’s sense of humour, Gayford finishes the book commenting and chatting with Hockney as he paints works depicting people in movement: dancers and jugglers. In his quest for a bigger and better picture of the world, Hockney remains very busy: ‘I don’t have a diary because it’s always full already,’ he tells us.