The World According to David Hockney - hardback, blue cover - words by David Hockney, edited by Martin Gayford

£14.99

Author: David Hockney

"I’ve always been a looker . . . that’s what artists do."

This anthology of quotations by David Hockney follows in the successful format of The World According to series. Ranging across topics including drawing, photography, nature, creativity, the Internet, and much more, The World According to David Hockney offers a delightful and engaging overview of the artist’s inimitable spirit, personality, and opinions.

"You're never going to get to the edge of the universe in a spaceship. You might as well try going on a bus. You can only go there in your head."

From everyday observations— "The eye is always moving; if it isn’t moving you are dead"—to artistic insights such as "painted colour always will be better than printed color, because it is the pigment itself," as well as musings on other image makers, including Caravaggio, Paul Cézanne, and Walt Disney, David Hockney has a knack for capturing profound truths in pithy statements.

"We do not look at the world from a distance; we are in it. I like the thought that I'm in the world. I don't want just to look through keyholes."

Born in Bradford, England, in 1937, Hockney attended art school in London before moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s. There, he painted his famous swimming pool paintings, and since then has embraced a range of media, including photocollage, video, and digital technologies. In a 2011 poll of more than one thousand British artists, Hockney was voted the most influential British artist of all time.

"If you see the world as beautiful, thrilling, and mysterious, as Ithink Ido, then you feel quite alive."

Presented as a beautifully designed and attractive package, illustrated with works of art from throughout Hockney’s career, this is the perfect gift for art lovers everywhere.

"I like looking at the world. The world is exciting, even if a lot of pictures are not."

Publisher Thames and Hudson has a  decades-long association with David Hockney. This book is being released as part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the publishing house. 

30 illustrations
17 X 12cm
176pp