David Hockney, aged 84, said that wellness is boring to him because it’s too complicated and ridiculous.

  • David Hockey ridicules the idea of wellness by calling it “ridiculous”
  • The 84-year-old painter confirms his passion for smoking, and refuses any gym membership
  • After receiving 40 beers matts in the mail from a London provocative artist, he spoke up
  • The eye-catching drink coasters Mr Bingo designed for owners declare that they are ‘bored’ of wellbeing. 










David Hockney has declared himself ‘bored of wellness’ and declared it ‘ridiculous and bossy’ – after buying £85 of beermats emblazoned with the phrase.

Portrait of an Artist artist, aged 84, has purchased 40 of the provocative coasters by Mr Bingo in London.

Committed smoker Hockney, whose works have fetched £71million, branded the idea of wellness ‘ridiculous’ in a letter to the artist.

After requesting permission, he wrote to Mr Bingo to tell him that the celebrity artist purchased some of his products.

Hockney responded, “I too am bored with wellbeing.” I find the concept absurd and too bossy.

“I still smoke and enjoy it immensely.

“I’ve never gone to the gym in my entire life. While I may walk slightly slower and less far than others, I continue to work every day.

“I have a Paris show that features a 90 metre long work which shows Normandy for a year. The love life.

Artist David Hockey rubbishes the concept of wellness, branding it 'ridiculous' in letter

David Hockey, an artist, ridicules wellness and calls it ridiculous in a letter

He spoke out after buying 40 beer matts from a provocative London artist Mr Bingo

After receiving 40 beers mats from Mr Bingo, he spoke up.

The painter, 84, confirmed his love for smoking and refusal to ever to go to a gym

The 84-year-old painter was adamant about his addiction to smoking, and refused to exercise at a gym.

Hockney was born in Bradford and has previously spoken about his health and love of cigarettes.

He lived in Los Angeles up until fairly recently, but he left the US 50 years ago due to strict smoking regulations.

Hockney told the Wall Street Journal on relocating to France: ‘I’d like to just work and paint,

The French live well. They are able to enjoy pleasure.

“I will die from a smoking-related or nonsmoking-related disease.”

He lamented last year about Briitain’s inability to tolerate smokers, and how he treated them with a’mean spirit’.

Hockey had his own ideas on how to maintain a youthful spirit.

He said painting and a ‘few nights of nice sex’ were his secret tonics an an unseen documentary.

The painter added to Hockney Uncut: ‘I’m not very social, I don’t go out that much. I’m honest, my life consists of painting and reading with a little bit of sex. 

David Hockney's Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) acrylic on canvas painted in 1972

Portrait of an Artist, acrylic on Canvas by David Hockney. Painted in 1972

How do you define wellness? 

Global Wellness Institute defines it as not a passive state or an active state, but rather a pursuit. The intention, choice and action to reach ‘an optimal level of health and wellness’.

It adds: ‘Wellness is linked to holistic health—that is, it extends beyond physical health and incorporates many different dimensions that should work in harmony.

‘Wellness is an individual pursuit—we have self-responsibility for our own choices, behaviors and lifestyles—but it is also significantly influenced by the physical, social and cultural environments in which we live.

“Wellness” is sometimes confused with the terms health, happiness and wellbeing. Although there are many common characteristics among these terms, wellness does not refer to being in a fixed state (i.e. being happy, healthy, or well). Wellness is a conscious process that allows you to be aware of your surroundings and make choices that will lead to optimal health and well-being.

In the Art Newspaper footage, he stated that if you see you’ve got something truly good to do in your life, it makes you very happy.

He said, “It made my feel much younger and fitter.” I realized that it was a stimulant. You’re living. You are living a life that is interesting and exciting. 

Bingo said that Hockney contacted him last night and had some of his art bought by him. It was an experience he will never forget.

According to him, The Telegraph reported that he was astonished and delighted by David Hockney’s purchase of his beer mats. The greatest honor to have your favorite artist purchase something that you created is having it done. This really meant a lot to me and makes him more dear to my heart.

As you elevate them to a godlike pedestal, you never believe you’ll have ever had contact with anyone like that. The mythical figure that exists only in my bookshelves and on the walls of galleries I’ve looked at.

“What’s making me bored is the constant pressure to get wellness down my throat. It’s everywhere I turn (social media and advertising), I see wellness. We don’t have enough wellness. While wellness is supposed to be good for your health, the truth is that it is not enjoyable. It’s boring.

I lived an excellent life, from 1979 through 2018, and didn’t know anything about wellness. It was all fine. It was not something I knew about and it wasn’t what I needed.

“People have become so focused on wellness that they are trying to live up to 140 years and be happy every day. They won’t look back and tell any funny stories about their lives.

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