
Sophia Sohal
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Hockney met Mo McDermott, a British Post-War and Contemporary sculptor, at the Royal College of Art in 1961. McDermott became a close friend, assistant, and frequent model for Hockney throughout his career. Their artistic collaboration extended into everyday life; in the late 1960s, Hockney commissioned McDermott to create a "forest" for his Notting Hill flat. McDermott responded by designing and hand-painting a series of stylized wooden trees, transforming the space into a whimsical and imaginative environment that reflected both artists' creativity and friendship.
Mo McDermott, is slightly slouched in the chair, staring wistfully into the distance, as five leaves are scattered around his feet. Mo McDermott would be the one to introduce Hockney to Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark. The group of creatives went on to form what is still described as "a Northern invasion of London".
Whilst Mo's facial features and hands are rendered in careful detail, his clothing and surroundings are executed in a simpler style, naturally drawing the focus to the sitter's face. Mo with Five Leaves, like other portraits by Hockney, offers an intimate glimpse into the artist's life, revealing who he surrounds himself with and cherishes.