David Hockney immersive and portrait exhibitions open across Australia

Two major David Hockney shows are launching in Australia following the artist’s death in June at age 88. The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra will present David Hockney: Portraits in Print from 5 September to February, displaying more than 60 works created over three decades and offering insight into his personal life and portraiture.

At Sydney’s Carriageworks, the immersive installation David Hockney: Bigger & Closer opens on 22 October and runs until January. The experience combines light, sound and recordings of Hockney’s voice, guiding visitors through chapters on his paintings, music and line work. Produced by Lightroom and narrated by Hockney himself, the show previously toured London, Manchester, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and China, attracting about 650,000 visitors. Lightroom CEO Richard Slaney described Hockney’s commentary as “like a favourite uncle over your shoulder,” while Carriageworks chief executive Fergus Linehan highlighted the exhibition’s focus on music and artistic process.