Diving Board with Stillwater on Blue Paper (Paper Pools 12): Paper pulp work by David Hockney

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David Hockney's Diving Board with Stillwater on Blue Paper (Paper Pool 12), 1978, is one of the most minimalist compositions within the Paper Pools series, shifting the viewer's perspective to place the diving board at the centre of the image. Executed in coloured, pressed paper pulp, the work presents the swimming pool from a frontal viewpoint, creating a strong sense of symmetry and balance. Unlike many of Hockney's earlier pool compositions, the water appears largely undisturbed, with only subtle ripples suggesting movement beneath the surface. The diving board casts a clean, uninterrupted shadow across the pool, reinforcing the impression of still water, while the surrounding green lawn provides a vivid contrast to the deep blue of the pool.

Created in collaboration with Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics, Diving Board with Stillwater on Blue Paper (Paper Pool 12) demonstrates David Hockney's continued experimentation with coloured, pressed paper pulp and his fascination with perspective, light and reflection. By constructing the composition from handmade paper fibres rather than conventional printing inks, Hockney achieved a richly textured surface that gives the water remarkable depth while maintaining its calm, mirror-like appearance. Widely regarded as a unique work, Diving Board with Stillwater on Blue Paper (Paper Pool 12) highlights Hockney's ability to transform a familiar swimming pool into a refined study of geometry, colour and stillness, reinforcing the innovative character of the Paper Pools series.