The Conversation (0)
Kate Plummer
May 12, 2021
David Hockney’s ‘Hockney Circus’ artwork in Piccadilly Circus
GLA
New artwork for the London Underground made by David Hockney has been brutally mocked online.
The artwork, which was shared on social media by mayor Sadiq Khan, is meant to celebrate London and encourage tourists, but it didn’t get the best reaction from people.
Khan said it was the first of “a series of major arts projects”, worryingly, and we are anxious to see what is up his sleeve next.
Here are 12 of the most withering reactions to Hockney’s handiwork.
Some, including mayoral rival Count Binface laughed about the ‘s’ in ‘Piccadilly Circus’ being plonked underneath the sign:
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It's ok everyone. Fixed it. #LetsDoLondon #DavidHockney https://t.co/DdFMzWcPPo— Count Binface (@Count Binface) 1620754665
Others speculated that the project was done at speed:
"David we need the artwork for the tube" "the WHAT?" "The posters you said you'd make for the TFL" "Oh fuck" "David… https://t.co/kPpFPkvVO3— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) 1620756909
Marketing campaign manager: ‘Hello, Mr Hockney, as part of the Let’s Do London campaign we’d very much like to comm… https://t.co/Pt5AODSBZC— Lee Madgwick (@Lee Madgwick) 1620759918
Absolutely loving the mental image of Hockney remembering he said he'd do this about eight minutes before the deadl… https://t.co/tUeaHsFLoC— Mike Bird (@Mike Bird) 1620778108
Or perhaps by a child:
@MayorofLondon Did he get a Blue Peter badge for it?— Methane Powered Fusilier (@Methane Powered Fusilier) 1620746998
Some people knocked up their own versions:
@MayorofLondon https://t.co/weTj7CrV52— Rick Burin (@Rick Burin) 1620747647
@MayorofLondon I would like to submit my art for consideration https://t.co/JgcbnNrI40— George Tuckley (@George Tuckley) 1620767843
And Specsavers couldn’t understand Khan’s enthusiasm:
@MayorofLondon See me— Specsavers (@Specsavers) 1620760825
Hockney is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century so maybe he made this tube art on 1 April or voted for Laurence Fox.
It comes as part of Khan’s ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign, which, according to his comments in the Metro, means “banging the drum for London to attract jobs, tourism and investment to our city. And it means backing our businesses – large and small.”
“Focused on providing immediate and vital support to our world-famous cultural, nightlife, retail and hospitality businesses, ‘Let’s Do London’ will seek to tempt domestic visitors – and Londoners – back into the heart of our city.”
London is pretty great and boasts a lot more to it than access to Microsoft Paint so perhaps Hockney’s work isn’t needed to get people to the capital.
But who are we to judge. After all:
@hansmollman Seen so many people be mean about his drawing. Don't they know drawing is really hard— Robyn Vinter (@Robyn Vinter) 1620768431
It really is.