Now 82, artist David Hockney is one of the most praised artists of the 20th century and until November 17th, visitors can see six of his art works.
As an important contributor of the 1960s pop movement, he is considered one of the most influential and important British artists. Working across a range of mediums including painting, drawing and iPad drawing, his subjects range from landscapes, his friends and dogs, his famous swimming pool works and portraits.
The six etchings currently at Shire Hall were created by Hockney in 1967 after he was inspired by the poetry of Constantine Cavafy. Hockney travelled to Egypt in 1963, visiting Alexandria and then to Beirut in 1966 to try and capture the atmosphere evoked in Cavafy’s poetry.
The Hockney art works are part of the British Museum touring exhibition, Desire, love, identity: exploring LGBTQ histories, which runs at Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum in Dorchester until Sunday, November 17th.
The exhibition, inspired by Professor Richard Parkinson’s book, A Little Gay History – Desire and Diversity Around the World, explores LGBT histories from across time and around the world. The publication of the Hockney etchings in 1967 coincided with the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales in July of that year.
For more information visit shirehalldorset.org
