Hockneys work appeals to a great many people who might otherwise display little interest in art It may be that they are attracted to it because it is figurative and therefore easily accessible on one level or because the subject matter of leisure and exorcism provides an escape from the mundanities of everyday life Perhaps it is not even the art that interests some people but Hockneys engaging personality and the verbal wit that makes him such good copy for the newspapers He may in other words be popular for the wrong reasons But does this negate the possibility that his art has a serious sense of purpose