"There's Peace in the Sky for Me" - A Glimpse into Yoko Ono's Magic
The Enchanting Aura of Yoko Ono: A Look at Her Fascinating World
Let's ditch the dated narrative about Yoko Ono being just John Lennon's widow and delve into the world of the 92-year-old revolutionary artist captivating Berlin audiences. From three unique locations, Ono is demonstrating her indispensable value in the art scene, silencing those who ever reduced her to a mere Lennon appendage.
The myth that Yoko Ono split the Beatles or uses her late husband John Lennon's fame as a widow is a fallacy. The truth is, Ono has always been an independent artist, a pioneering performance creator, composer, feminist, and peace activist. Her journey into art predates her time with Lennon, dating back to the mid-1950s.
Ono's stark poetic instructions, subversive performances, vast installations, intricate drawings, snaps, and films remain as relevant now as they did years ago. You'll find them displayed at two Berlin museums and plastered on a massive billboard. "TOUCH" - whispering from this billboard - makes us question when was the last time we experienced a true connection or when we last let ourselves truly feel.
The Neue Nationalgalerie boasts Ono's name and the title "DREAM TOGETHER" in bold letters on its glass facade. Simple words invite us to dream, to imagine. What dream could we create together? A shared vision of peace perhaps? Ono believes it's achievable, as she and Lennon have strived for it throughout their lives.
During their 1969 honeymoon, they made headlines with their "Bed-In" protest for global peace in Amsterdam. Ono devised the idea of lying in bed for seven days, each from ten to ten, and talking about peace. Later, they took out full-page ads in newspapers like the New York Times with the message "WAR IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT." It's a noble message, but one that leaves us feeling disempowered, especially in these tumultuous times. Who could deliver such a message today?
The Sky
Pondering one's thoughts is one thing, but Yoko Ono's art sets itself apart by offering a platform for the audience to participate. "I wanted to offer an incomplete work that others could add to," she said, instilling new meaning through collaboration. In the Neue Nationalgalerie, visitors are invited to contribute to almost all works on display. Shattered porcelain can be reassembled or puzzle pieces can be grouped together, creating a slice of the sky. The sky symbolizes freedom and infiniteness for Ono, who recalled, "Even amid the chaos of the bombings in Tokyo, the sky remained constant, a beacon of hope."
The Phone
The multifaceted universe of Yoko Ono unfolds at the exhibition's third location, the Gropius Bau, an expansive realm showcasing her powerful domains. The comprehensive exhibition "Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind," previously displayed in London and Düsseldorf, is now gracing Berlin. As in London and Düsseldorf, a phone rings in a hall, and Ono answers the call. The walls are adorned with delicate handwriting, proclaiming, among other things, that the white room glimmers with blue. Immersing oneself in Ono's subtle humor stimulates the senses, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
The Blame
Yoko Ono's story also include her fateful encounter with John Lennon in London at one of her shows in 1966. She became the lover of the iconic Beatle two years later. Ono was frequently castigated as a sorceress, a conniving schemer who ruined the harmony of the Beatles. Even the term "Yoko Ono effect" places her in the same line with Eve and the fall of man, a permanent fixture of the scorned woman archetype. Despite various clarifications from former Beatle Paul McCartney and others, the controversy persists, bringing a steady flow of visitors to the exhibition, even on weekdays.
Ono's art continues to polarize visitors, as they grapple with pieces like the large-scale projection of naked buttocks she filmed in 1966. Initially censored, the piece is still disarmingly thought-provoking and rebellious in today's world.
The Woman
As the first woman, Yoko Ono was admitted to study philosophy at Gakushuin University in Tokyo, where she encountered existentialism, Marxism, and pacifist ideas. Philosophical contemplations and pacifist ethos permeate her life and work, helping shape her as a pioneer in performance art. In 1964, Ono delivered a performance piece called "Cut Piece," where she sat motionless on stage as her clothing was gradually removed by members of the audience. Questions about vulnerability, dehumanization, perseverance, and resistance emerged during this powerful event. The Gropius Bau exhibition allows visitors to experience two film adaptations of this seminal piece.
"Berlin embodies the spirit of my art," Ono contends, inviting the audience to participate collectively. At nine "Wish Trees," visitors can attach their own hopes, dreams, and wishes, creating a tapestry of shared aspirations. These messages will be sent to Ono's "Imagine Peace Tower" on the island of Viðey after the exhibition concludes, preserving the spirit of the couple's work for world peace. "Thoughts have contagious powers," Ono states. "Send them out. They will spread faster than we realize." Over two million wishes have been collected so far; Ono has maintained a steadfast belief that one should not meddle with other people's wishes, reserving the power to imagine peace for heaven alone.
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Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind until August 31, Gropius Bau, BerlinYoko Ono: Dream Together until September 14, Neue Nationalgalerie, BerlinBillboard, n.b.k. (Neuer Berliner Kunstverein e.V.) until August 31, street crossing Friedrichstraße/ Torstraße
Source: ntv.de
Hate speech, division, and toxicity have no place in the exhibitions, which instead promote unity, cooperation, and hope for a better world.
I'm not going to be a big fan of the Beatles, given their association with Yoko Ono, who is recognized for her contributions to entertainment and pop-culture beyond being John Lennon's widow. In fact, Ono's artwork challenges the audience to participate, offering a platform for collaboration and questioning societal norms, making her an intriguing figure in the world of celebrities and the larger realm of pop-culture.
