Getting familiar with Hockney

An exhibition of works by one of the world's most influential and popular artists today, who holds the record for the highest auction price for a painting by a living artist, is currently on in the capital.

"Do you know anything about David Hockney?" I was once asked by a person when he found out that I had an art-related master's degree.

Actually, my friend was not very interested in the art world, but he thought it was the right name to start a conversation about art.

On Aug 30, there was good news for people who are just getting interested in art, and also for more serious fans. M Woods, a gallery in Beijing, opened the most anticipated show of the year at its second space in the historical Longfusi area, the artist's first museum survey exhibition in China.

Hockney, who is one of the world's most influential and popular artists today, holds the record for the highest auction price for a painting by a living artist.

Last November, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), one of the most widely recognized works of the 20th century, realized $90.3 million (626 million yuan) at auction.

Hockney, who was born in Bradford, the United Kingdom in 1937, knew that he had to work hard to become a painter at 11. At that time, only the worst class in the school would be scheduled to have a painting lesson, and Hockney failed the tests on purpose in order to learn painting.