David Hockney (b. 1937). Christopher Isherwood Talking to Bob Holman, Santa Monica, 1983. Dyecoupler photograph collage ...

Description

David Hockney (b. 1937)
Christopher Isherwood Talking to Bob Holman, Santa Monica, 1983
Dyecoupler photograph collage on paper
35 x 55 inches (88.9 x 139.7 cm) (collage)
Ed. 9/20
Signed, titled, and dated lower center: Christopher Isherwood Talking to Bob Holman, Santa Monica March 14th 1983 #9 David Hockney

PROVENANCE:
LA Louver, Inc., Venice, California;
Janine Smith, acquired from above, 1986.

EXHIBITED:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, "Photography and Art 1946-1986," June 4, 1987-April 3, 1988.

"Christopher Isherwood Talking to Bob Holman" is one of David Hockney's intriguing photo collages created in 1983. This piece exemplifies Hockney's experimental "joiner" technique, where he used multiple photographs to construct a scene from various angles and perspectives. In the collage, Hockney captures a conversation between the novelist Christopher Isherwood and his friend Bob Holman, resulting in an intimate, layered portrayal that blends personal connection with a sense of movement and time.

What makes this work compelling is how it encapsulates Hockney's interest in how people interact and communicate. Rather than a single, still photograph that captures a single frame, Hockney's collage captures fragments of the conversation, layering different perspectives to suggest the dynamism of human interaction. Through this process, he avoids the limitations of traditional, single-shot photography by combining multiple viewpoints and subtly hinting at the unfolding of time. This piece reflects Hockney's fascination with both the spatial and temporal aspects of perception and memory, demonstrating how we experience moments not as static images but as a flow of impressions.

Additionally, Hockney's choice of subject-Christopher Isherwood, a prominent writer, and Bob Holman-adds a layer of significance to the piece. Both individuals were part of Hockney's social circle in Los Angeles, a city whose artistic and cultural vibrancy Hockney celebrated. By choosing to portray Isherwood, Hockney acknowledges the influence of literary and intellectual figures on his own life and work, honoring these connections while pushing the boundaries of photographic representation.


More information about David Hockney. See also: Hockney, David Artist.

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