David Hockney Encourages Public to Share Drawings of Springtime Amid COVID-19
10 works will be included in an exhibition at Paris’ Châtelet theatre.
Last month, David Hockney unveiled a series of Apple iPad images he created during self-isolation from his home in Normandy, capturing the blossoming fruit trees and flowers in his backyard that marked the beginning of spring. The British artist has now inspired a competition, called “Hope in Spring: draw like Hockney,” that will encourage people to share their own images evoking the awakening of nature in spring and lift coronavirus lockdown spirits.
The idea for the competition came from Ruth Mackenzie, artistic director of the Châtelet theatre in Paris. “I asked David if he would consider doing something for French people in lockdown needing a touch of solidarity and he very generously sent us one of his works exclusively and shared another nine with us and agreed to do this brilliant competition to inspire and spark some joy,” she explained. “It just seemed a lovely idea to share his fantastic spirit of optimism and hope and color. Hopefully it will inspire people all around the world.”
Hockney has been encouraging people to draw since COVID-19 lockdown measures were put into place. “Question everything and do not think about photography,” he said. For the competition, three partner organizations — the Châtelet theatre, France Inter radio and the Centre Pompidou — have teamed up to select 10 winning drawings. The work will be part of an exhibition at the Châtelet when it reopens and will be presented online by the partners.
For more information on “Hope in Spring: draw like Hockney,” head to Châtelet theatre’s website.
In other news, Maurizio Cattelan and the New Museum have launched a new digital initiative asking renown artists to read bedtime stories out loud.
Everybody can enter this competition – send your drawing to HockneyPrintemps@sabir.paris or post on social media with #HockneyPrintemps . Join in this beautiful project of @franceinter @CentrePompidou @theatrechatelet #tchatextra https://t.co/FZzOfG6zOF
— ruth mackenzie (@ruthmackenzie) May 17, 2020
