David Hockney interview: On new exhibition Bigger & Closer, life in France, and his partner Jean-Pierre

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He looks after me and that gives me life.” open image in gallery Bigger and closer: Viewers admire an installation of Hockney’s ‘Gregory Swimming Los Angeles March 31st 1982’ Jean-Pierre Gonçalves de Lima is his boyfriend and collaborator of many years, a musician and photographer who surrounds and protects him with care and love. “We actually look after each other,” JP says, looking debonair and muscular as he enters the sitting room of their London house, rubbing David’s shoulder as he sits at the kitchen table – a wheelchair nearby. They hate me at ASH.” Hockney moves on to art, dancing, sex, religion, watching the latest film, seeing his first opera for many years, and snapping up some sharp new clothes. And that, for me, is very exciting.” open image in gallery Installation of David Hockney’s ‘The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 ’ Reinvention is part of Hockney’s progress, but always he returns to painting.