David Hockney's Westminster Abbey window

MookJong

MookJong

MookJong

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So David Hockney has been commissioned to create a stained-glass window to celebrate the Queen’s reign and it has been unveiled in Westminster Abby.

https://www.theguardian.com/artandd...ipad-designed-queens-window-westminster-abbey

It is meant to celebrate the Queen's "love for the countryside".

2333.jpg


Is it just me or is this just an absolute microcosm for the times we are living in. The window was designed on an iPad and quite frankly I think it is ugly and not in keeping with the level of craftsmanship seen in the rest of the Abby.

Why do we have to have post modern celebrity artists "push the boundaries". I can think of a dozen more fitting representations and images that could have been pictured to celebrate the Queen's legacy.

Am I alone in thinking this is very poor and bordering disrespectful / phoned in? Compared to the standard of high craftsmanship set by the rest of the Abby, why on earth would you allow this to happen, unless you are pushing some soft of agenda?

Beautiful:
500_F_138381452_q_Gtyo_OHfxnwq_Li_MIm92_UWu3_AVd3edch_J.jpg
 
Might as well strip out the rest of the stained glass, flog it, and fit cheap UPVC double glazing to the place, what an eyesore, it's only matched by the Millennium Dome in sheer modernistic awfulness. Were narcotics involved?
 
Shirley there's more to the symbolism though. He knows fine that we will all say this. He designed it this way for a reason no. It represents how phoney and substanceless we are, or is it really just talentless garbage. I don't do art.
 
I'm convinced it's a new agenda to prevent the creation of anything classically beautiful. You see it most in modern buildings which we are meant to celebrate for looking like the stuff of nightmares.

Hockney's window fails to capture the reserve and dignity of the Queens reign or the majesty and beauty of the UK countryside. Image the hills, forest and rivers you could have captured in the detailed classical style, the acorn, thistle, shamrock and leek etc subtly incorporated.
 
"And the Lord said hearken unto me OCUK readers, this stained glass is an abomination."

Completely agree with you, I think a large part of the lack of beauty in modern architecture and art is because our culture is devoid of transcendental inspiration, be it Gods, Kings or Legends. What are you hoping for when people don't strive to emulate an omnipotent, mythic entity (or indeed to create something 'for them'), rather they draw inspiration from a tale on facebook or instagram.

I'll get off my soapbox now.
 
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You're not looking at it properly.

The use of colours, the way the lines flow to encompass the essence of nature.

The bold use of ovals to contrast the harsh edges of the stained glass.

The...............i give up, it is ****
 
The image you posted doesn't show the whole window — it's just the top half of the right panel. This tweet shows (most) of the full window:


MookJong said:
So David Hockney has been commissioned to create a stained-glass window to celebrate the Queen’s reign and it has been unveiled in Westminster Abby.

Is it just me or is this just an absolute microcosm for the times we are living in. The window was designed on an iPad and quite frankly I think it is ugly and not in keeping with the level of craftsmanship seen in the rest of the Abby.

Why do we have to have post-modern celebrity artists "push the boundaries". I can think of a dozen more fitting representations and images that could have been pictured to celebrate the Queen's legacy.
Click to expand...

Are you familiar with Hockney's work? One would assume that if the Abbey didn't want something that looked like a David Hockney, they wouldn't have commissioned David Hockney to do it… and he's been experimenting with the digital medium since 1985, so it's not as though he just grabbed an iPad for the lols, that is his style.

MookJong said:
Beautiful:
500_F_138381452_q_Gtyo_OHfxnwq_Li_MIm92_UWu3_AVd3edch_J.jpg
Click to expand...

I can appreciate it for its technical ability, and I agree that it's befitting of Westminster Abbey, but it's not to my taste at all. That's the thing, you can discuss matters of taste as much as you like, but clearly enough people like Hockney's work, or he wouldn't be considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.


MookJong said:
I'm convinced it's a new agenda to prevent the creation of anything classically beautiful. You see it most in modern buildings which we are meant to celebrate for looking like the stuff of nightmares.
Click to expand...

I think you're being paranoid.
 
Mason- said:
"And the Lord said hearken unto me OCUK readers, this stained glass is an abomination."

Completely agree with you, I think a large part of the lack of beauty in modern architecture and art is because our culture is devoid of transcendental inspiration, be it Gods, Kings or Legends. What are you hoping for when people don't strive to emulate an omnipotent, mythic entity (or indeed to create something 'for them'), rather they draw inspiration from a tale on facebook or instagram.

I'll get off my soapbox now.
Click to expand...

This has to be it, but hardly a defense in this case, it's a window both in a religious building and for a monarch!!!
 
Irish_Tom said:
Are you familiar with Hockney's work? One would assume that if the Abbey didn't want something that looked like a David Hockney, they wouldn't have commissioned David Hockney to do it… and he's been experimenting with the digital medium since 1985, so it's not as though he just grabbed an iPad for the lols, that is his style.



I can appreciate it for its technical ability, and I agree that it's befitting of Westminster Abbey, but it's not to my taste at all. That's the thing, you can discuss matters of taste as much as you like, but clearly enough people like Hockney's work, or he wouldn't be considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.
Click to expand...

People like his work, and art is subjective. But clearly this doesn't go with the style of the building. It's like putting the stained glass that @MookJong posted for a comparison in a modern art museum, it doesn't fit with the aesthetic and is completely out of place. If we're going to go out of our way to preserve old buildings and their style, then we should do just that. Making a fusion between old and new is just confused and ugly.
 
If the average Joe in a Grade II listed house wanted to put something like that in the front window frame, or even build a fence alongside a hedgerow, the local planners would have a fit of the vapours, but when it's an "artist" like Hockney they bite their tongue, even when the building is one of the most significant historical edifices in Great Britain. I would like to hear Prince Philip's opinion on it ;)

It's another carbuncle on the face of an old friend:

" On 30 May 1984 Prince Charles sent shock waves through architecture when he used a speech to the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to lambast modern design, describing a scheme by Peter Ahrends for a towering extension to the National Gallery as a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend".
 
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Irish_Tom said:
Are you familiar with Hockney's work? One would assume that if the Abbey didn't want something that looked like a David Hockney, they wouldn't have commissioned David Hockney to do it… and he's been experimenting with the digital medium since 1985, so it's not as though he just grabbed an iPad for the lols, that is his style.
Click to expand...
You'd have thought after 30 years of experimenting with digital media he'd produce something better than a 5 year old's first go on MS Paint.
 
Irish_Tom said:
That's the thing, you can discuss matters of taste as much as you like, but clearly enough people like Hockney's work, or he wouldn't be considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.
Click to expand...

It's not a matter of taste, it's a matter of craft and Hockney's style falls far too short of what is required to get the best out of this medium. I know Hockney well, my GCSE Art course work was entirely focused on his work.

I'll admit they got what they asked for. I just find it beyond belief you would have asked him. It seems like a dishonest move to be trendy or pander to the cosmopolitan. Maybe they thought it would attract visitors, I don't know, but I don't believe it was an honest move without some kind of angle.
 
Mason- said:
People like his work, and art is subjective. But clearly this doesn't go with the style of the building. It's like putting the stained glass that @MookJong posted for a comparison in a modern art museum, it doesn't fit with the aesthetic and is completely out of place. If we're going to go out of our way to preserve old buildings and their style, then we should do just that. Making a fusion between old and new is just confused and ugly.
Click to expand...

This is absolutely a fair criticism, and the decision makers must have debated this before commissioning him.

enkoda said:
You'd have thought after 30 years of experimenting with digital media he'd produce something better than a 5 year old's first go on MS Paint.
Click to expand...
Yawn.

MookJong said:
It's not a matter of taste, it's a matter of craft and Hockney's style falls far too short of what is required to get the best out of this medium. I know Hockney well, my GCSE Art coursework was entirely focused on his work.

I'll admit they got what they asked for. I just find it beyond belief you would have asked him. It seems like a dishonest move to be trendy or pander to the cosmopolitan. Maybe they thought it would attract visitors, I don't know, but I don't believe it was an honest move without some kind of angle.
Click to expand...

Right, which is a slightly different argument to the "OMG it's a global conspiracy" from your OP.
 
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