Ono's radical rebellion: museum visit turns into open-air art experiment
In 1971, Yoko Ono unleashed a bizarre, unforgettable spectacle at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City – and it wasn’t a sanctioned exhibition at all.
A gallery of flies and a city-wide conversation
Instead of carefully curated Art, visitors encountered a deluge of flies, invited to follow them through the streets as Ono stationed cameras to capture their reactions. The result? A groundbreaking work of participatory Art, where the audience became the artists themselves.
Beyond the ‘bonkers’ label: ono’s enduring vision
While some dismissed Ono’s stunt as absurd, a young boy’s simple, unadulterated delight – “Then you have a very good museum there, that’s real neato” – revealed the profound appeal of her work. This clip now anchors ‘Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind’ at The Broad, demonstrating the core of her practice: exploring the ‘why’ behind our choices and the narratives woven into the everyday.
A legacy reconsidered
The show, running through October, offers a comprehensive survey of Ono’s early work – conceptual art, music, film, and activism – and arrives amidst a crucial cultural re-evaluation of her legacy. Long dismissed, Ono is now recognized as a foundational figure in conceptual and performance art.
Imagination as action
Monahan, Ono’s studio director, notes that the exhibition doesn’t encompass all of her vast body of work, “There’s no one show that could really encompass all of Yoko’s work.” Driven by the philosophy “Believe in yourself and you’ll change the world,” Ono’s approach— viewing imagination not as secondary, but as the very essence of creation— continues to resonate powerfully.
Interactive encounters and evolving meanings
‘Music of the Mind’ features deeply engaging, interactive elements. Visitors write wishes on trees, decorate a white boat with messages, and even hammer nails into a canvas, creating a constantly shifting landscape of collective expression. The work, particularly ‘Add Color (Refugee Boat)’, adapts to reflect contemporary issues, like the ongoing humanitarian crises.
A performance of protest and joy
From the unsettling ‘Cut Piece’ – where Ono invited audiences to dissect her clothing – to the playful use of black sacks and suspended helmets, Ono’s art consistently disrupts expectations and prompts reflection. Her work, as Monahan asserts, is ‘never been contained by a gallery or a museum’, and is ultimately ‘an action or activity, a provocation or perception shift for the audience.’
A lasting impression
As billboards across Los Angeles proclaim, Ono’s legacy extends beyond the museum walls, reminding us to “Think Peace, Act Peace, Imagine Peace.” Her art, and her unwavering belief in the power of imagination, continues to challenge us to see the world differently. Ultimately, Ono’s work isn’t about destruction – it’s about sparking a transformation, one nail, one wish, one fly at a time.”n