From Japan Society - June 29, 2000

The exhibition is divided into five chronological and thematic sections:

I-GRAPEFRUIT: The Early Instructions

This opening section includes conceptual paintings, works on paper and printed matter produced from approximately 1960 through the publication of Ono's celebrated 1964 anthology Grapefruit. Ono's early work with the Fluxus movement in New York is featured, as well as her interaction with the Tokyo avant-garde during her residence there from 1962-1964. Central to this section is the series Instructions for Painting, a provocative set of written directions for "paintings to be constructed in your head." The works in the series are among the first examples of pure language standing in for the material of art. Using ephemera, humor and viewer participation, this series was crucial in the development of Ono's art, and significant in establishing the Fluxus and Conceptual Art movements internationally.

II-HALF-A-WIND: Early Objects

Ono's early objects are assembled here as a group. They include works made of common "found" materials, often displayed with a linguistic element, juxtaposed in a way that combines intellectual wit, whimsy and paradox. This section also features all the remaining elements of Ono's Half-A-Room instsallation from her Half-A-Wind show at London's Lisson Gallery in 1967. Documentary photographs and publications trace Ono's subversive relationship with the official establishment and its notion of "art as a commodity."

III-FLY: Events, Performances and Films

Enlarged documentary photographs and a video display are used to present images of Ono's early concert and performance work from 1961, when she presented "Of a Grapefruit in the World of Park" at Carnegie Recital Hall, with performers including David Tudor, Richard Maxfield and Yvonne Rainer. Original sound recordings present Ono's extraordinary use of vocal techniques - what Lennon called her 16-track voice - acclaimed by such musicians as Ornette Coleman, David Bowie and, more recently, Cindi Lauper and the B52s. This section also features continuous projections of Ono's 1966-1970 experimental films, including Film No. 4 (Bottoms), Film No. 5 (Smile) and Fly..

IV-WAR IS OVER!: The Peace Movement and Other Collaborations with John Lennon

Ono's belief in the ability of the mind to alter reality through a change in perception translated into a form of anti-war activism entailing organized acts of "wishing." During the height of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement, much of her work with John Lennon used media to effect mass mind power towards the visualization of world peace. This section includes documentary photographs and films of Ono and Lennon's numerous happenings and media campaigns staged for world peace.

V-PLAY IT BY TRUST: Recent Work

In 1988, Ono began a series in which she cast some of her 1960s objects in bronze. The transformation of works, originally light, transparent and ephemeral, into solid bronze reflects a fundamental shift in her cultural sensibilities, from the ethereal to the material. This section includes some early works juxtaposed with the later bronzes. It also includes Cleaning Piece and Wish Tree, both interactive installations that invite audience participation, and a large-scale version of her all-white chess set, Play It By Trust.

More Japan Society Gallery Information:

News Release from Japan Society

Facts About the Accompanying Book