YO YOKO

By Benjamen Judd

When she wasn’t busting up the greatest band of all time, Japanese artist Yoko Ono happened to be one of the coolest artists of her time. One of the true performance artists, Yoko Ono has spent the last half century breaking down conventions between artist and spectator and what art actually means.

Her life with and post John Lennon has been one filled with consistent controversies, whether it be about her art or her turbulent relationship with Paul McCartney. To say that Yoko Ono is anything but a polarizing figure within both the music and art scenes would be to deny the reality of her life. And it is with some truly fluttering breaths that we are happy to announce that the Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quay will be the latest home to the retrospective of Yoko’s work, War Is Over. BAZINGA!

Famously described by John Lennon as ‘the world’s most famous unknown artist’, Ono is now recognised as an innovative artist whose work traverses generations. From the personal to the political, Ono has embraced themes of loss, conflict, humanity, and the desire for world peace through her art.

The collection showcases a full range of Ono’s work including sculpture, immersive installations, written texts, films, sound compositions and participatory art works which will involve you in a range of hands-on activities – from mending and arranging broken crockery, to stamping world maps with peace stamps, to writing personal messages of love to your mother.

War Is Over will show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quay until February 2014.