DAVID HOCKNEY by Luke Edward Hall
Artist and Designer
With a style of drawing reminiscent of Jean Cocteau, playful and f luid, 20-something Luke Edward Hall is a rising talent who has been able to turn his talent not only to illustration but also interiors, ceramics and product design. His clients have included Burberry, famed Positano hotel Le Sirenuse, Christie’s and Stubbs & Wootton. Colour is a huge thing for me - with my work, but also in regards to what I wear; I’ve always worn lots of colour - and so I’m drawn to those who do too. David Hockney is one of those people, of course; I’m quite drawn to his style, it seems very English. He uses interesting colour combinations, a lot of primary colours. I can’t really think of anybody else that has worn colour like he has... All those clashing hues - heaven for me! And all those amazing individual pieces: the striped rugby shirts, bright knitwear, and heavy-framed glasses…
I think I’ve known of Hockney since I was a teenager, and certainly since I moved to London - I came to study fashion at university, about ten years ago. When I started studying menswear and designing menswear, that’s when I became more aware of Hockney’s personal style, I’d say. And his style seems totally effortless, the opposite of a styled celebrity; his clothes always look lived-in and thrown to- gether.There are all of these pictures of him in amazing suits. There’s one in particular, it’s a Peter Schlesinger photograph taken at Cecil Beaton’s house in Wiltshire, England, and Hockney is wearing this kind of windowpane check suit with mismatched socks - one red, one green. It’s slightly off the w all, very fun. Definitely one of my favourite books is Schlesinger’s
A Checkered Past - I’ve been fascinated by those pictures, and all the images of Hockney from that time. Looking back at the 1960s and 70s through his photographs - they’re so, sort of, romantic somehow.You get this idea of a bohemian, exciting London; and New York as well, I guess.
I like people who express themselves with their clothes and dare to be a bit different. Colour is really important to me and I often stand on the street looking confused - why is everyone wearing grey and black? It’s so boring!