A COMMITTED RETROSPECTIVE AT THE HEART OF ART AND ACTIVISM
The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, in partnership with the Tate Modern in London, presents an exceptional retrospective of the Japanese artist Yoko Ono.

Installed in the K20 building, the exhibition "Yoko Ono. Music of the mind" brings together more than 200 works. It offers an immersive journey through the multidimensional career of this pioneering figure of conceptual and performance art, also a musician and activist, from the 1950s to the present day.

Among the works on display are films, installations, musical scores, and photographs that reflect the artist's participatory approach, influenced by the Fluxus movement. Founded in the 1960s by George Maciunas, Fluxus championed a form of experimental art that challenged the boundaries of artistic creation. Yoko Ono played a crucial role in this movement, introducing daring performances such as Cut Piece (1964), in which she invited the public to cut pieces from her clothing, thereby denouncing the objectification of women while revealing her own vulnerability.

Another iconic work, Wish Tree (1996), invites visitors to hang their wishes on the branches of a tree, symbolizing a collective act of hope and unity; the messages are then kept at the Imagine Peace Tower monument in Iceland, which the artist created in memory of John Lennon.

Despite her major influence, Yoko Ono's work was long overshadowed by her relationship with John Lennon, with whom she maintained a close artistic collaboration. Once considered "strange," she is now recognized for her decisive impact in liberating art from traditional conventions.
This retrospective, which pays tribute to her pioneering role and her ability to engage the public in meaningful dialogue, offers a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant and timeless legacy of this visionary artist and activist.

“YOKO ONO. MUSIC OF THE MIND »
KUNSTSAMMLUNG NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN, K20
GRABBEPLATZ 5, DUSSELDORF (GERMANY)
UNTIL MARCH 16, 2025
KUNSTSAMMLUNG.DE