Factory International presents David Hockney’s blockbuster immersive retrospective Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) at Aviva Studios 10 Dec 2024 – 25 Jan 2025, following its immensely popular run at London’s Lightroom.
Opening today at Factory International’s Aviva Studios in Manchester, David Hockney takes audiences on a personal journey through 60 years of his art, utilising the extraordinary capabilities of the venue’s vast warehouse space. This new run of the Lightroom production Bigger & Closer further strengthens David Hockney’s connection to UK audiences, following his relocation back to the UK in July 2023.
The artist’s process is revealed in a cycle of six themed chapters, featuring his most iconic images alongside lesser-seen pieces and newly-created work. A unique and deeply personal running commentary by the artist is paired with an original score by Nico Muhly, and the show is directed by Mark Grimmer of 59 Studio.
His life-long fascination with the possibilities of new media is given vibrant expression in a show that invites visitors to see the world through his eyes. His voice is in our ears as we watch him experimenting with perspective, using photography as a way of ‘drawing with a camera’, capturing the passing of time in his polaroid collages and the joy of spring on his iPad, and showing us why only paint can properly convey the hugeness of the Grand Canyon.
From LA to Yorkshire, and up to the present day in Normandy, the show is an unprecedented opportunity to spend time in the presence of one of the great popular geniuses of the art world still innovating, still creating beauty and awe. For lifelong fans and those new to Hockney alike, Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) affords unparalleled access to the mind of one of Britain’s most loved artists.
David Hockney says: “I’m very happy that my exhibition is going to Factory International in Manchester and that more people in the UK will be able to see my pictures bigger & closer than before. LOVE LIFE DH”
Standard tickets are on sale from £20, with affordable options available from factoryinternational.org. Suitable for all ages – under 14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+. Children aged two and under can enter for free and do not require a ticket.
Reflecting Factory International’s commitment to ensuring access to the widest possible audiences, Aviva £10 tickets are available for all shows for Manchester communities across its year-round programme.
Listings Information
Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
10 Dec 2024 – 25 Jan 2025 (press preview 11am, 10 December)
Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
Standard Tickets from £20
Concessions from £10
Aviva £10 Tickets available
Children aged 2 and under FREE and do not require a ticket.