David Hockney Interview: The World is Beautiful

In this short and uplifting video, the influential British painter David Hockney talks about looking and painting for more than 60 years - and shares a story that made him reflect on our time.
“The world is very, very beautiful if you look at it. But most people don’t look very much. They scan the ground in front of them so they can walk, but they don’t really look at things incredibly well, with intensity. I do, and I’ve always known that.” In March 2020, Hockney sent out his iPad drawing ‘Do Remember They Can’t Cancel the Spring’ (2020) in response to the coronavirus outbreak. In this video, he shares the story of how a philosopher on a news program was asked how he could be optimistic with the current news: “And he said: Well, that’s television. Bad news sells.” The reporter then inquired what the good news was, to which the philosopher responded: “Well, the arrival of spring,” Hockney continues laughing.
In the video, you also get to experience the world premiere of an animation technique, which Hockney himself calls “time-based brush painting.”
David Hockney (b.1937) is a British painter, printmaker, photographer and stage designer, who is considered among the most influential and versatile British artists of the 20th century. Hockney is a notable contributor to the pop art movement in Britain, both in its foundation and growth, beginning with his participation in an annual exhibition called ‘Young Contemporaries’ in 1960, which also marked the start of his recognition in the art world. Hockney is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Praemium Imperiale for Painting (1989), and the Lifetime of Artistic Excellence Award (Pratt Institute) in 2018. His work can be found in numerous collections worldwide, including National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, National Portrait Gallery and Tate Gallery in London, Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris, De Young Museum in San Francisco, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo.
David Hockney was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner at his home in France in March 2019.
Many thanks to David Hockney for providing the works and the animation shown in the video.
Camera: Jakob Solbakken
Edited by Roxanne Bagheshirin Lærkesen
Produced by Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2020
Supported by Nordea-fonden
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[@Nately22]

My favourite artist of all time. He paintings have a wonderful joy... full of hope, happiness and colour. A British icon.

[@novacain11]

I just found out about him by asking chatgpt some art questions

[@MrJasdog107]

David captures sunshine like nobody else.

[@natural09100]

Nature is everything , nothing else can turn me on .. I drown in it every single day. It’s a guaranteed haven. It just IS. The news story is lovely. Keep safe and keep making images. There beautiful.

[@ArtGardens]

The arrival of Spring with David Hockney any time !

[@shadeshelp7183]

Thank the stars for David Hockney

[@leoj7478]

So much love in this thread. Well deserved love. Beautiful person. Beautiful painter.

[@MrSouloz]

What a lovely person! We need more of these characters. X

[@marygynn3576]

He has inspired me to express the wonders that surround us we must not take for granted

[@sk-wq3dd]

Writes

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

A b s o l u t e l y !!

[@josedacunhafilho]

And this is what an illuminated person does, and sounds like. What a blessing for the world this man has produced so much great art, and is still producing. Amen.

[@marygynn3576]

He opened my eyes to this wonderful world

[@promisespleases]

I love David Hockney. Wonderful man.

[@SouthArtDealer]

Indeed "the world is very very beautiful", marvelous video, inspirational

[@jamesallison4875]

Just what I need to hear. Thanks, Mr. Hockney.

[@edwardmclaughlin7935]

We still do not realise just what a huge character we have in this man. His visual acuity seems to just get sharper with time.

[@irener1892]

Love what he said! Love what he drew and painted!

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

My kind of person...such beauty in his art...

[@lisajanebraun6455]

A beautiful message from a beautiful, talented painter ⭐😊💛

[@oliviacasino8888]

Bravo, bravo...what you’ve shared with me in my lifetime has illuminated my very soul.

[@kowsickz]

i love this old man

[@fatClyde]

The greatest painter of many generations. His attention to details and colour has maybe never been surpassed. He's up there with Turner and Van Gogh.

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

Very nice vid ! Dave is - among Ed Hopper - one of the noble few painters, who inspired me to paint myself. I am e t e r n a l l y thankful for that !

[@angelreading5098]

And you Mr Hockney are beautiful too,you have brought us colour and joy into our lives and continue to do so with your inspirational work,thank you for just being yourself.

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

🙌 👏 🙏 🤝 👍

[@dorothyburke4486]

Thankyou David. How well you said it and illustrated it.

[@shahilagh]

Thanks for sharing this. I like his art very much.

[@bharatbhandari7620]

You are a true artist Sir... a huge inspiration for all creative people around the globe.

[@Samantha1970]

I just love him, what a gift he is

[@bluefish4580]

Lovely! I really like Davids plain talking, describing and honesty

[@lisengel2498]

Very uplifting to look at pictures that seem to be a celebration of the beauty of life - a lovesong to life

[@olhabohdan3822]

The esthetic of him and his surroundings is on point. Everything is so well arranged around him, looks magical. Also such great and uplifting message.💌🕊️

[@Novacynthia]

Thank You 🦋 Much Appreciated Message in Honor of Life 🎨💖🌟

[@robertwalker951]

I know him well for 40 years he is a gem

[@estherstlouis8498]

tears of joy - what a beautiful man and creative talent.

[@svenfigenschou7345]

Thanks David

[@janiakowska]

so brilliant !!

[@sara2010M]

I just love David Hockney's philosophy on life. I hope to meet him one day before I'm gone 🤗

[@gadwal]

SM M before he’s gone

[@missk8264]

Love this guy, his work and the way he sees the world. 💯🔥😊

[@lilipagura6646]

So glad to see and heard you!! One day, years ago one of my Maestros told me.."you remind me a printer....!" Months later he showed me one of your technicolor woods...and since then I became one of your fans...in the shadows of distance... You are one of the people who makes world better..thanks Maestro!!

[@pamelamckenzie2685]

Stunning, lovely man.

[@dharshidesilva2189]

He is so great! We all love Hockney at the Haus of Orbs Gallery 😃

[@OANNAAS]

Beautiful artist.

[@3340steve]

What a wonderful person...he is so smart yet so self-effacing....

[@luiscocina3451]

Thank you from Santiago de Chile

[@lawrencefinch-hatton6231]

I'd love to meet you, David. Just to shake your hand/give you a hug, smile, and say thank you.

[@mojochi100]

THANKYOU DAVID ! XXX

[@user-eb3fq3rg4d]

I love this

[@pornswordtobacco]

Beautifully Said

[@heyahn]

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

[@mary3391]

Shine on David 🌈🌞

[@TheDavizlau]

😊 thank you

[@Belfreyite]

Several cultures worldwide deeply welcome the arrival of spring. The browns turn to green.

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

🙌 👏 🙏 🤝 👍

[@lactroc11]

great painting's

[@magdalenabiunska9522]

Thank you 🕊️🌱💚 I love you 🕊️

[@jessebrewer2045]

Great artist and human being. Need more people Ike this in the world.

[@sg_lbrrl]

Beautiful 😌

[@user-oi3vx4oj1u]

The art and the philosophy are beautifully simple. Regardless, it is amazing how few grasp either.

[@jhb61249]

I came to know of David late in life. Everything I saw was of his early life prior to 65 years old. Now he is 83 and will be gone soon. It feels like my new friend aged overnight and I didn't have enough time to build a relationship. Of course it always seems we have enough time until it's gone. This darn covid made the situation even worse.

[@debangshumoulik5857]

Would’ve loved for this video to go on a bit longer. Love these videos. ❤️

[@shahilagh]

Yes me too

[@dutra_heitor]

sublime...

[@paulelletson99]

What a wonderful and optimistic man 👍👍👍

[@Andrew_h975]

Hi there

[@lolibernalserradilla7542]

Yes, the life is beautiful!

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

Especially the life of a lovely painter :D

[@Johnmell100]

You're right most people cannot see the beauty around them, they are too busy rushing around but not achieving anything worthwhile. Very best wishes David!!

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

So true ! They got 2 eyes "a gift of god" but they do not use them . . . so sad . . .

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

Forgot this one: they have got hearts, but they do n o t l o v e . . .

[@tekannon7803]

Dear Mr Hockney, Thank you for this videocast. You have inspired artists and everyday people from all walks of life. I am not sure, but one thing I think you would not agree to is your painting of the swimming pool going for a cool 120 million dollars. Maybe I'm wrong, but from hearing you on numerous videocasts, I have a feeling you would say that expensive paintings have become absurdly over-priced. I'm not knocking your work, just how unfair capitalism can be. Lastly, I would like to thank you for your discovery of the mirrors and lenses that artist's like Vermeer used. You never mentioned Rembrandt in your series, but recently I saw one of his paintings when he had to close his studio. It was not like the others. The detail was gone. Maybe it was just old age, but I thougtht about you and the lenses. It's a contribution to art that can never be equalled. I am an artist and it seems to me that each painting I do is more challenging than the preceeding one, but I keep going.

[@nancyblum12]

Listen to Mr. Hockney.

[@suesmith9665]

Its beautiful when you got it all

[@Andrew_h975]

Hi 👋

[@maaritvesa3350]

"Most people don´t look very much" - how true this is - unfortunately.

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

🙌 👏 🙏 🤝 👍 so they do NOT live properly ! Eyes ARE for looking. a heart IS for loving , TLC . . .

[@melanielangevin1512]

It's so true, people don't look enough !! Someone once told me it was not useful..I was shocked by this revelation !

[@Andrew_h975]

Hi 🤗

[@paulinerodgerson2476]

I love this man's work. He's a Yorkshire lad! I bought a big framed print of Garrowby Hill from his Yorkshire Wolds collection. I met him at his exhibition in Salts Mill in Saltaire. I am going to Pocklington for another print soon.

[@dougieb2159]

You are very lucky he seems such a lovely person, I was born in Bradford myself I love listrn

[@dougieb2159]

I love the way David hockney speaks, even though he left his native bradford many decades ago and has reached the absolute top of his chosen profession he has never sold out despite living in california for many years, he is very eloquent but also seems very grounded and down to earth, if anybody in England is a national treasure it is mr hockney

[@jtlawton6858]

My art hero David...so unpretentious ..opposite of so many good artists

[@kevinivek055099]

💛

[@fallenfaust]

💚

[@muttlee9195]

❤️

[@andrzejmaranda3699]

Louisiana Channel: this interwiew IS VERY INTERESTING!

[@winstonsmith9740]

His art is sort of a modern version of van Gogh's but there is no similarity in their characters I think. Vincent was obsessive, compulsive, depressed, on the spectrum. Hockney is relaxed, deep thinking, gregarious etc.

[@billnickels6667]

I have learned much from David

[@justsaying9483]

The arrival of winter is good news too

[@seungwooham3204]

Nice

[@mecedesa2623]

THE PLANET IS BEAUTIFUL MR.HONEY. TE PLANET. THE WOLD NOW.

[@jasondouglas2132]

The inks!

[@liebingf]

💋

[@beabatungbacal4051]

[@zeldaclements1617]

Hi David havent seen you since I was a little girl . I'm Clive Miller's daughter glad you doing ok xx

[@Ozblu3y]

I doubt he would see your comment here but you should try to find his email!

[@vinniegiles374]

I don't think just because somebody appears in a video that this is a direct portal to speak to them. Do you shout into the television speaker??

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

Vinnie Giles she actually has a connection to Hockney. But U never will lol

[@vinniegiles374]

@@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631 Firstly the point of the comment was to illustrate that you are not speaking directly to the subject of a video by simply dropping a "Hi David" etc onto a you tube comment thread. Secondly the connection to Hockney is implied but clearly you believe any claim that she makes so that's your choice. Thirdly not only is your bizarre snipey comment totally unwarranted and in your use of text slang such as U and Lol, you have failed to take into account that you may even be wrong on that, and here's where it gets really interesting. I do have a connection, I wont waste it on you in your stinky apartment full of books and dvds but yes I have worked on his books mainly for London publishing house T&H. Keep on dreaming mate and stay on that self created pedestal of fake intellectual superiority, i'm sure that's working out for you just great. Have a nice dayee.

[@mcleanedwards7748]

1968 had a feast ate a little boy

[@LordMarvin1993]

PJW brought me here

[@kalebgonzales4009]

“In order to graduate art school, you have to paint a nude woman.” Hockney: “ok.” Also Hockney: *presents a unproportionally painted nude guy .* :) Caroline: “ What a MADLAD!”

[@AL_THOMAS_777]

First rule in artists life : "Do n o t obey" :D

[@sonnyobrien]

We won't have spring for long given we're heading to ecological collapse. But he's right... at least we get spring now.

[@joebeamish]

He had done lots of great work on and off throughout his career. But the iPad stuff shown in this video is banal.

[@metokyo4960]

The spring isn’t the only season that arrives… autumn and winter take you cold and gloomy every year as well, so don’t be such picky Dave!

[@SH_Hof]

W C H A U A N T T

[@Abxxxz20s]

😂😂😂😂

[@batchint]

you should see the cringe parts coming out of our group

[@mcleanedwards7748]

Dispatch

[@stewartbrands]

Tinkle tinkle tinkle. This silly piano has nothing to do with anything. What,some arty sound? It's not even that! nonsense.

[@lluhu]

Overrated.