David Hockney show launches King's Cross art space Lightroom

Lightroom in Lewis Cubitt Square will host spectacular artist-led shows, launching wtih David Hockney's Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) from January 25.David Hockney has recorded a commentary for the show which leads the audience through old new and rarely seen artworks (Image: Lightroom)

The artist's commentary accompanies digital projections and a specially-composed score, leading audiences on a personal journey through his art - from iconic paintings to rarely seen pieces and newly created work.

Told in six themed chapters, the show embodies his life-long fascination with new media and invites visitors to see the world through his eyes as we watch him experimenting with perspective, using photography to 'draw with a camera', capturing time passing in polaroid collages, and the joy of spring on his iPad.

Audiences join him on audio visual drive through the San Gabriel mountains into the opera house, with animated re-creations of his stage designs. On the soundtrack he comments: "The world is very very beautiful if you look at it, but most people don't look very much. They scan the ground in front of them so they can walk, they don't really look at things incredibly well, with an intensity. I do."David Hockney's show runs from January 25, 2023 (Image: Lightroom)

A 'sister space' to London's Bridge Theatre, Lightroom is a collaboration between Bridge artistic director Nicholas Hytner's London Theatre Company, and innovative design studio 59 Productions to stage original shows with leading artists using cutting edge projection and sound technology.

Mark Grimmer of 59 Productions has directed the Hockney show: "We have worked with David to bring together large-scale projected images, animation, archival and interviews and a commissioned score to create a new kind of show which owes as much to Hockney's theatrical design as to his painting, drawing and photography," he said. "It's been thrilling to work with David and we hope the show will introduce a whole new audience to his art."The new space in Lewis Cubitt Square will have a bar and cafe and hold audio-visual shows by leading artists (Image: Lightroom)

Executive producer Hytner, who lives in Primrose Hill, said: "What's so exciting about this show is how authentically Hockney it is. Listening to his voice in this astonishing new space while seeing his artworks unfurl around the four walls will be both an experience and an education. It suggests how potent this medium will be for other creators and artists with whom we will make new Lightroom shows."

His fellow north Londoner Danny Cohen who represents venue backer Sir Leonard Blavatnik said: "Lightroom is a new home for the world's great artistic innovators. It's an opportunity for them to think and create in new and spatially ambitious ways using the latest digital technology. David Hockney's new show will delight and amaze audiences - we can't wait to open the doors  in January 2023."

Lightroom will have a cafe bar run in collaboration with St John and will open seven days a week. David Hockney's show is booking now from Janaury 25-April 23, 2003. Tickets from £25 adults, £15 students. https://lightroom.uk/