Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono: The Learning Garden of Freedom will be the major exhibition dedicated to the work of the iconic artist Yoko Ono, bringing together objects, works on paper, installations, performances, audio recordings, and films, alongside rarely seen archival materials. The exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of the manifold output of this pioneering conceptual and performance artist that, during the first years of her extensive career, moved among New York, Tokyo, and London, serving a pioneering role in the international development of Conceptual art, experimental film, and performance art. Ideas, rather than materials, are the main component of her work. Many of those ideas are poetic, absurd, and utopian, while others are specific and practical. Some are transformed into objects, while others remain immaterial. Her work frequently reflects the artist’s sense of humor as well as her pronounced socio-critical attitude. The point of departure for many of Ono’s works is found in her Instructions: oral or written guidelines for viewers that offer a host of suggestions and assign a much more active role to the audience than usually expected in the art world.

May 30, 2020