David Hockney's upcoming exhibition at the Royal Academy brings new technologies to the classic subject of landscape. The show will span five decades of his work, including his first ever film piece. Hockney and his crew used nine cameras to create the film, which will be projected across many large screens. The films depict the same landscape changing through the four seasons, in an effort to bring an element he has accused television and even 3D film of lacking; he tells the Guardian that these media have not "made people look very hard." He has high hopes for the project, boldly noting that "it has occurred to [him] that it could save cinema."
On the other hand, he has made light of innovation, telling Metro that "You can see a lot more with nine cameras, naturally."
Aside from the film, the exhibition will feature 150 of his works. Among these will be his latest technological gambit: painting on Brushes, an iPad application. Will playing with technique and technology increase the "spatial thrill" which Hockney identifies as the enjoyment of landscape? That remains to be seen, or really looked at. As for what tech-savvy innovations Hockney plans to tackle next, he thinks he plans to return to portraits.
David Hockney: A Bigger Picture will show at the Royal Academy between January 21 and April 9, 2012.
Watch the trailer below: