A year ago this week David Hockney’ stained glass window design to mark the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second was revealed.
The window received many reviews, many positive, many negative.
The Queen was claimed by Hockney to Say:
‘An amazing brightness and clarity, it is a simple, utterly recognisable, direct scene.
From Hockney’ birthplace, the Yorkshire Post stated:
‘It looks like it was painted by a six-year-old.’
The Dean, the Very Revd John Hall declared:
‘There’s absolutely no harm in having something which is particularly vibrant and different.’
And, I myself, reviewed the window in my article ‘Hockney Smokney’ classified it as being a ‘National Blunder’ in addition to:
‘Some kind of organic jellyfish-like form surrounded by randomly positioned pods which bear no relation to the framework of the glass.’
So, one year on I have taken it upon myself to create a new design for the window.
and….
..it was much more difficult than I initially imagined….
I have kept with the theme of the Queen and her love for the countryside. More abstract in design I introduced yellows to the uppermost section to imply sunlight. The main bodies of the windows beginning with greens of the land, raising to blues of the sky over the higher sections. The circular elements have the potential to be formed through glass blowing, they introduce the idea of flowers or perhaps blossom. The organic nature of the layout suggests the motion and that of falling.
The result:
I have managed some subtleties.
Is it fit for the Abbey?
No, indeed it is not, perhaps an early concept which could be developed into something of greater standing.
