When encapsulating David Hockney’s career into a single book, it has to be big. The artist’s storied works are so varied and span such a long time that there’s no other way to do them justice. The new tome A Bigger Book, which measures 27.5 inches high and comes with its own stand, is an immersive dive into Hockney’s 60-year career.
Curated by the artist himself, the book begins with works from his teenage days at the Bradford School of Art in England. From there, it touches on his breakthrough during the 1960s in London, his life in Los Angeles in the ’70s, and more recently his portraiture and iPad drawings. Paintings like “Bigger Trees Near Warter” and “A Bigger Splash” are complemented by drawings, photo composites, stage designs, and multi-perspective collages.
Hockney’s restless interrogation of perception and representation unfold on the 498 pages in A Bigger Book. The tome is supplemented by a 680-page illustrated chronology, and each of the 9,000 collector’s editions are signed by Hockney himself. Overall, the book’s scale and scope feel as if an entire retrospective on exhibition at the MoMA were condensed into a single object. The price is large as well: $2,500.
Pre-order a copy from Taschen here. But before you do, enjoy a preview of the book below.
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