«The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney
The contemporary artist David Hockney is well known as a painter of nature. However, what is the focus of his art? What is his self-appointed purpose as a painter? From a critical review of his numerous publications the answer arises naturally: humanity. David Hockney abandons abstraction and excess...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Milano University Press
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Itinera |
| Online Access: | https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/article/view/16112 |
| _version_ | 1797764052027441152 |
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| author | Elisabetta Mazzoni |
| author_facet | Elisabetta Mazzoni |
| author_sort | Elisabetta Mazzoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The contemporary artist David Hockney is well known as a painter of nature. However, what is the focus of his art? What is his self-appointed purpose as a painter? From a critical review of his numerous publications the answer arises naturally: humanity. David Hockney abandons abstraction and excessive naturalism, criticizes and uses photography (and other new medias) to find a way to better understand and express his humanity; to communicate his personal vision of the word. The subjects of his paintings – present or not – are humans and their peculiar way of looking, which is very different from that of a camera. Human vision takes place over time, and it carves the space. It is close to its object, and it is influenced by memory. Human beings are not only the subject but also the recipient of his work, he draws for humanity. He aims to educate himself on a more human perception and communicate it to others. Art education is visual education. Art sharpens the visual sense and makes it see the world as beautiful, thrilling and mysterious. Thus, by changing perception, it can change the world. If we look at the world more closely, if we allow ourselves to truly perceive the beauty of the ordinary, we can better love and care for our environment. This is Hockney’s duty as an artist, to paint humanity and its visual perception in order to make the world more human. In this overstimulating era of new media, he indicates to his anesthetized contemporaries a possible way to fight against their many distractions and emerging depressions and, perhaps, even to address major environmental issues. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:51:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d95aad208b048488294fc9960281b72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2039-9251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:51:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Milano University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Itinera |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d95aad208b048488294fc9960281b722023-08-02T03:11:37ZengMilano University PressItinera2039-92512021-08-0121«The Human Clay»: la poetica di David HockneyElisabetta Mazzoni0Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di MilanoThe contemporary artist David Hockney is well known as a painter of nature. However, what is the focus of his art? What is his self-appointed purpose as a painter? From a critical review of his numerous publications the answer arises naturally: humanity. David Hockney abandons abstraction and excessive naturalism, criticizes and uses photography (and other new medias) to find a way to better understand and express his humanity; to communicate his personal vision of the word. The subjects of his paintings – present or not – are humans and their peculiar way of looking, which is very different from that of a camera. Human vision takes place over time, and it carves the space. It is close to its object, and it is influenced by memory. Human beings are not only the subject but also the recipient of his work, he draws for humanity. He aims to educate himself on a more human perception and communicate it to others. Art education is visual education. Art sharpens the visual sense and makes it see the world as beautiful, thrilling and mysterious. Thus, by changing perception, it can change the world. If we look at the world more closely, if we allow ourselves to truly perceive the beauty of the ordinary, we can better love and care for our environment. This is Hockney’s duty as an artist, to paint humanity and its visual perception in order to make the world more human. In this overstimulating era of new media, he indicates to his anesthetized contemporaries a possible way to fight against their many distractions and emerging depressions and, perhaps, even to address major environmental issues.https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/article/view/16112 |
| spellingShingle | Elisabetta Mazzoni «The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney Itinera |
| title | «The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney |
| title_full | «The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney |
| title_fullStr | «The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney |
| title_full_unstemmed | «The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney |
| title_short | «The Human Clay»: la poetica di David Hockney |
| title_sort | the human clay la poetica di david hockney |
| url | https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/article/view/16112 |
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