David Hockney’s final masterpiece comes to Sydney

Australians will soon have the chance to step inside the colourful world of one of modern art’s greatest visionaries, with an internationally acclaimed immersive exhibition making its Australian debut just months after David Hockney’s death.

For generations of art lovers, David Hockney’s work has been instantly recognisable, from his iconic Californian swimming pools to vibrant landscapes and striking portraits, the British artist spent more than seven decades challenging the way people see the world.

Now you will be able to experience that vision in an entirely new way when David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) opens at Carriageworks in Sydney on October 22.

Rather than displaying paintings on gallery walls, the exhibition transforms Carriageworks’ vast Bay 17 into a four-sided digital environment where Hockney’s art surrounds visitors from floor to ceiling. His paintings, photographs, drawings and digital works are brought together with animation, music and narration by Hockney himself, creating an experience that explores not only his art but also the way he looked at the world.

A different way to experience art

Originally developed with Hockney for London’s Lightroom exhibition space, the production has already attracted more than 650,000 visitors across London, Manchester, Shanghai and Seoul. Sydney will become its first Australian destination.

The timing adds another layer of significance following Hockney’s passing earlier this year at the age of 88. Throughout his career, he continually embraced new technology, moving seamlessly between painting, photography, stage design and digital media while remaining one of the world’s most influential contemporary artists.

Carriageworks CEO Fergus Linehan said the exhibition blurred the lines between visual art, theatre and cinema.

“Hockney’s work sits in our imagination in ways that feel deeply familiar to Sydneysiders,” Linehan said.

“Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) is a chance to enter this world in the most visceral of ways, and to celebrate an artist who left us with the simplest and most profound of mottos: ‘Love Life.'”

Planning your visit

David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) opens at Carriageworks, Eveleigh, on October 22, with tickets now on sale. Presented by Carriageworks and Andrew Kay and Associates, the exhibition is expected to be one of Sydney’s standout cultural attractions throughout spring and summer.