Renowned British artist David Hockney has transformed Battersea Power Station into a festive spectacle with his latest installation, Bigger Christmas Trees (2023). Animated Christmas trees, created using an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, are projected onto the iconic chimneys of the former power station, now part of Apple’s new U.K. headquarters. The installation will light up from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. daily until Christmas, bringing a contemporary twist to the holiday season.
Expressing his intentions, Hockney stated, "I wanted to decorate it in a way that I hoped would bring joy and hope to Londoners."
This digital art piece marks a continuation of Hockney's integration of Apple technology into his work since 2007, a trend seen in previous projects involving the iPhone and iPad, including a notable one for Westminster Abbey. The Christmas-themed installation, marrying technology and art, represents a distinctive phase in the artist's evolving practice. Currently, Hockney is showcasing intimate portraits at London’s National Portrait Gallery in an exhibition titled “Drawing from Life.”
Elsewhere in London, Turner prize winner Rachel Whiteread has collaborated with the Connaught Hotel to adorn a Christmas tree with 102 circular neon white hoops, a characteristic motif in her artistic repertoire. This joint effort aims to "motivate Londoners to honour a sense of community and positivity this festive season," according to the hotel.
Red Eight Galley is pleased to offer David Hockney’s Walking, (June 1986) to our art enthusiasts (pictured above)
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Main Image: David Hockney, Bigger Christmas Trees, 2023. Courtesy of Battersea Power Station.