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Tiny pictures in black ink, charcoal and iconic canvases are among the 150 portraits by David Hockney on display at London's National Portrait Gallery from Thursday.
The collection traces 50 years in the life of one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary artists and includes some never-before-seen works.
"It's the first time that an exhibition in Britain has been devoted only to his portraits," said gallery curator Sarah Howgate.
It took three years to bring together, in close cooperation with Hockney, who pronounced himself "very grateful" at the gallery Wednesday.
The exhibition, both chronological and arranged by themes, includes some "iconic" Hockney works, in the words of National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne.
They include "Peter Getting Out Of Nick's Pool" (1966), painted in California where Hockney lives, "American Collectors" (1968), "My Parents" (1977) and "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy" (1970-1971).
The latter featured in the final 10 of the greatest painting in Britain vote in 2005 -- the only work by a living artist to do so.
The exhibition features some portraits which have never been on public display before, including a recently rediscovered self-portrait, painted by Hockney when he was just 17, and another of Celia Birtwell, one of his muses.
His portraits, never conventional, "reflect his passion for life, love and art," said Howgate.
They show "a chronicle of his life where we can gain an insight into his world and artistic preoccupations."
Portraits in black ink, charcoal and also collages, the portraits span many different forms throughout the years.
Hockney's mother Laura holds a special place among the portraits.
Also visible is his fascination with the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), the influence of California, his attempts to integrate photography into his works, and more recently, his unique way of painting portraits "direct from life", to use his expression.
The artist, who has hearing problems and rarely makes public appearances, was at the National Portrait Gallery off London's central Trafalgar Square to launch the exhibition.
Elegantly turned out in a beige suit and a red tie -- "There is no point in dressing down unless you dress up" -- Hockney said reports of the death of portrait painting had been "obviously exaggerated".
"It will never die," he insisted.
"People will always be interested. And even if there is photography, I am one of those who believes that if you paint people, you will get a longer exposure and you're going to see something more interesting."
Sometimes called a godfather of pop art -- a title he refuses -- Hockney is known for his landscapes and his acrylic interpretations of private spaces, living rooms, showers and Californian swimming pools, in which light plays a key role.
He has always known success ever since he left London's Royal College of Art in the early 1960s.
Last June, his painting "The Splash" fetched 2.6 million pounds (4.8 million dollars, 3.8 million euros) in London -- a record for a Hockney work.
In May, "A Neat Lawn", another of his canvases, fetched 3.6 million dollars (2.9 million euros) in New York.
He has lived in California for many years, fascinated by the space and the light. However, he decided to spend the last winter in his native Yorkshire in northern England, at the bracing resort of Bridlington on the east coast.
The exhibition "David Hockney Portraits: Life, Love, Art", runs until January 21, 2007.
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AFPEntertainment-Britain-art-painting-Hockney
AFP 121107 GMT 10 06
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