Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind
Yoko Ono is honoured with a major retrospective of her trailblazing work that begins in the early 50s with a draft of Grapefruit, her book of ‘instructions’ for creating art and continues right up to her latest work, writes Michael Holland.
Across seven decades, Music Of The Mind reminds viewers of how brave and ground-breaking her art was, and from today’s standpoint her imitators and the artists she inspired are more clearly seen.
Most of Ono’s art is an idea, a concept that others can turn into art, or just think about it. It’s all art to her if it gets you to think about it.
But let’s be honest here, there is the chance that most of the developed world would never have heard of Yoko Ono if John Lennon had never met her at her exhibition. He once said, ‘Yoko is the world’s most famous unknown artist. Everybody knows her name, but nobody knows what she does.’
And it’s not hard to see why Lennon fell for the quirkiness of Yoko Ono, and how she influenced him – Think Apple, think Bag-In. Think Peace. You’ll see all those John and Yoko tropes at Music Of The Mind, all created while John was still singing ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’ in The Cavern – there’s even the Ladder that Lennon climbed up when they first met.
There is a lot of interactive art at the show. Ono was very good at involving others in her art and this shows highlights that aspect of her. You can bang a nail in, step on art, graffiti a boat and the white cube it is stranded in; play chess with only white pieces until you forget where your own pieces are. It is a fun exhibition that any age group can relate to on its various levels.
Music Of The Mind does make you think about art because the exhibits are not something you look at and move on, there is a moment of study and thought for most of them, even if that thought might be, ‘Is it art?’
Ono’s legendary Cut Piece is in the exhibition of 200+ artworks. It is a disturbing film. I felt ashamed when the smirking man began cutting away at her blouse and bra straps, her vulnerability hurt me inside. I could only try to take solace in the angry eyes in her poker face. His artlessness became her art. She is remembered for a groundbreaking piece of performance art. He is remembered only as misogynistic bully.
My favourite work in Music Of The Mind, though, was the final piece where you could write something on a piece of paper about your mother and stick it on one of the many blank canvases that filled the room. People were queueing up to write something nice.
Yoko Ono is a very interesting artist and even now, in her 90s, she’s still getting major retrospectives. And while we seem to be living in a world that doesn’t want to give peace a chance, we could go for the peaceful vibe at Music Of The Mind.
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG until September 1st. Open Daily 10am – 6pm. Admission: £5 – £22.
Tickets available at tate.org.uk and +44(0)20 7887 8888
