Hockney Window, Westminster Abbey
The 'Queen's window' in the north transept by David Hockney installed in 2018. When I first heard that Hockney was preparing a design for a new window at the Abbey I was excited, knowing that this great painter and colourist was capable of creating something good (I even mentioned eagerly anticipating this window in the final paragraph of my book 'Stained Glass' published at the same time, a comment that I have regretted ever since). What we got instead was a quick sketch on an ipad that he apparently spent about 20 minutes on, giving us a splash of flat colour suggesting a Yorkshire landscape (because it was familiar to him, but nothing to do with the brief commemorating the Queen's reign) populated by false teeth, yellow seaweed and a river of blood!
Hockney's ipad sketch was lauded by some as a revolutionary new approach making use of new technology for an ancient medium in a ancient church. The fact that such an important architectural setting was disregarded (Hockney didn't even visit the setting until after the window was installed) and treated with such flippancy was ignored because after all he is famous and a brand name the Abbey was willing to welcome whatever the consequences (the cult of celebrity after all has always been rather a strong theme here). I dare say any practicing stained glass artist more familiar with how to use the medium would not have been granted such a carte blanche in such a venerable setting, but then as a Royal Peculiar the usual vetting processes and restrictions for new artworks likely don't apply. If one wants to see how contemporary stained glass can make a bold and dramatic statement while working with the architecture one should compare Graham Jones's window in the south transept (a pity he wasn't called back, but then unlike Hockney he isn't a household name). Being a celebrity artist is quite empowering.
www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/history/the-que...
Westminster Abbey is perhaps the most significant church in English History, site of the coronation of monarchs since it was founded by Edward the Confessor, and burial place of the majority of them, along with many other historical figures of note. It is first and foremost a superlative work of medieval architecture, from its soaring 13th-14th century nave, transepts and choir (all in a curiously French inspired version of Decorated Gothic) to the masterpiece of English Perpendicular, the incredibly lacy fan-vaulted Henry VII's chapel at the east end.
The Abbey is also a treasure house of ecclesiastical art, most of it monumental sculpture on the numerous tombs and effigies of almost every date ranging from the entire medieval period through to the 20th century; a somewhat cluttered interior, crammed full of interest, there is simply nothing else quite like it, no other church contains so many monuments.
The Abbey's monastic ranges partially survive, most notably the cloisters and superb chapter house; a short summary of the Abbey's riches is simply impossible. The monastery itself was shut down during the Dissolution, after which the Abbey briefly became a cathedral until its diocesan rank was revoked merely a decade later. Today it is designated a 'Royal Peculiar' owing to its unique status.
The Abbey is a textbook in stone of British history, and thus a hugely popular tourist attraction. It currently has more limited opening hours in the post-Covid recovery period and entry is not cheap, but happily after decades of a strict prohibition against photographers the rules have now been relaxed at last and visitors are now welcome to fully enjoy this marvellous building with their cameras!
For further details (and restrictions) see below:-
Hockney Window, Westminster Abbey
The 'Queen's window' in the north transept by David Hockney installed in 2018. When I first heard that Hockney was preparing a design for a new window at the Abbey I was excited, knowing that this great painter and colourist was capable of creating something good (I even mentioned eagerly anticipating this window in the final paragraph of my book 'Stained Glass' published at the same time, a comment that I have regretted ever since). What we got instead was a quick sketch on an ipad that he apparently spent about 20 minutes on, giving us a splash of flat colour suggesting a Yorkshire landscape (because it was familiar to him, but nothing to do with the brief commemorating the Queen's reign) populated by false teeth, yellow seaweed and a river of blood!
Hockney's ipad sketch was lauded by some as a revolutionary new approach making use of new technology for an ancient medium in a ancient church. The fact that such an important architectural setting was disregarded (Hockney didn't even visit the setting until after the window was installed) and treated with such flippancy was ignored because after all he is famous and a brand name the Abbey was willing to welcome whatever the consequences (the cult of celebrity after all has always been rather a strong theme here). I dare say any practicing stained glass artist more familiar with how to use the medium would not have been granted such a carte blanche in such a venerable setting, but then as a Royal Peculiar the usual vetting processes and restrictions for new artworks likely don't apply. If one wants to see how contemporary stained glass can make a bold and dramatic statement while working with the architecture one should compare Graham Jones's window in the south transept (a pity he wasn't called back, but then unlike Hockney he isn't a household name). Being a celebrity artist is quite empowering.
www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/history/the-que...
Westminster Abbey is perhaps the most significant church in English History, site of the coronation of monarchs since it was founded by Edward the Confessor, and burial place of the majority of them, along with many other historical figures of note. It is first and foremost a superlative work of medieval architecture, from its soaring 13th-14th century nave, transepts and choir (all in a curiously French inspired version of Decorated Gothic) to the masterpiece of English Perpendicular, the incredibly lacy fan-vaulted Henry VII's chapel at the east end.
The Abbey is also a treasure house of ecclesiastical art, most of it monumental sculpture on the numerous tombs and effigies of almost every date ranging from the entire medieval period through to the 20th century; a somewhat cluttered interior, crammed full of interest, there is simply nothing else quite like it, no other church contains so many monuments.
The Abbey's monastic ranges partially survive, most notably the cloisters and superb chapter house; a short summary of the Abbey's riches is simply impossible. The monastery itself was shut down during the Dissolution, after which the Abbey briefly became a cathedral until its diocesan rank was revoked merely a decade later. Today it is designated a 'Royal Peculiar' owing to its unique status.
The Abbey is a textbook in stone of British history, and thus a hugely popular tourist attraction. It currently has more limited opening hours in the post-Covid recovery period and entry is not cheap, but happily after decades of a strict prohibition against photographers the rules have now been relaxed at last and visitors are now welcome to fully enjoy this marvellous building with their cameras!
For further details (and restrictions) see below:-