British painter David Hockney, who passed away on the 11th of this month at the age of 88, was followed by many epithets during his lifetime. Called the "icon of 20th-century art," the "world's most expensive artist," the "pioneer of digital painting," and the "magician of color," Hockney held a singular place in the art world. His paintings—capturing everyday life with blue swimming pools bathed in California sunshine, lush greenery, and lively colors—captivated audiences worldwide for decades. Following the painter's death, his works have surged in popularity alongside the wave of mourning. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, demand for Hockney's paintings jumped more than 1,200 percent within 48 hours of his death.
Unlike his dazzling fame, the funeral of the modern art master was modest. In fact, no one even knew a funeral had taken place until Hockney's publicist confirmed it to British media including the BBC on the 21st. Held privately, behind the condolences of the British royal family, cabinet ministers, and world-renowned artists, Hockney's funeral was attended by just two people—his partner and his grandnephew. It was the wish of the deceased, who had always said he "didn't like a fuss." Beyond Hockney, cases of world-famous figures rejecting grand funerals and quietly bidding farewell to the world are not rare. John Lennon of the Beatles, assassinated in 1980, and the legendary rock star David Bowie, who died in 2016, were both cremated without any funeral procedures, in accordance with the wishes of their families and themselves.
Korean funerals typically last three days. The cost of holding a funeral at a mortuary alone exceeds 15 million won. Condolence money from mourners has gradually become 100,000 won as the norm. The rows of wreaths lined up are a barometer of the bereaved family's social status. Burdensome formalities and waste have long crept into the funeral procedures meant to mourn the deceased. But recently, signs of change are appearing. Citing reasons such as the rise of single-person households and the higher cost burden, funerals that break from convention—mortuary-free funerals, two-day funerals, family funerals, and living funerals—are increasing. A survey also found that 71.8 percent of adults nationwide are willing to hold their own funerals in a mortuary-free manner. The paradigm shift in a rigid funeral culture is still unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.
