David Hockney's long-anticipated exhibition, at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, is a major letdown. Hockney was a high-profile English painter in the British pop art movement in the '60s. But A Bigger Picture is an exhibit of his more recent works, from 2004 to last year.
The works are based on his observations, memories and imaginative visions of landscapes across Britain and the US. He uses a wide variety of media including good-old oils and even iPad prints.
Critics have hailed the exhibition, which ends in April, but most of his paintings fail to make an impression. The artist seems to have put too much focus on quantity instead of quality.
Watercolour paintings of Yorkshire explode with vivid colours, but they fail to convey the subtlety of tones of British landscapes. He may paint from his own cheerful vision of pink foliage and green roads, but it hardly resonates. His intensive use of bright hues also doesn't work.
Hockney's brushwork is rough and unpolished - as though he were painting with a sense of urgency. In an interview, he admitted to rushing his work, because he wanted to capture the fleeting scenes of changing seasons.
The result is a collection an art student might be proud of, but isn't ready for display.
None of it justified my GBP14 (HK$170) admission, nor my one-hour wait in the cold.