Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind" Exhibition at the Broad Museum in Los Angeles
Yoko Ono is set to bring her message of peace to Los Angeles through an upcoming exhibition at the Broad museum. The 93-year-old artist will display a series of seven digital billboards across the city, with five located along Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and one each at the TCL Chinese Theatre and Fox Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. The billboards will feature phrases like "THINK PEACE," "ACT PEACE," and "IMAGINE PEACE," among others, as part of the exhibition titled "Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind," opening on May 23.
In addition to the billboards, the museum will host various ancillary programming, including the re-creation of two of Ono's iconic performance art pieces. One of these works, "Cut Piece," involves audience members cutting away pieces of Ono's clothes, while the other, "Sky Piece to Jesus Christ," will be reimagined by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The museum's summer concert series will also feature a night dedicated to celebrating Ono's extensive music catalog, curated by Yuka Honda and featuring artists like Yo La Tengo and Nels Cline.
Sarah Loyer, the curator and exhibitions manager at the Broad, highlights Ono's use of mass media and advertising language in her work to spread messages of peace and humanitarianism. The exhibition aims to showcase the political and humanitarian themes present in Ono's art throughout her career, emphasizing the relevance of her work in today's world.
The exhibition will also feature a re-creation of the original 1969 "WAR IS OVER! If You Want It" L.A. billboard, along with phrases inspired by Ono and Lennon's conceptual country of "Nutopia." The exhibition's presentation, though timely, was in development before current conflicts, showcasing the enduring relevance of Ono's work. Ono's art encourages audience participation and empowerment, urging individuals to effect change in the world.
Yuka Honda, the guest curator of the exhibition, shares her personal connection with Ono and the inspiration she draws from the artist's life and work. Honda's guest curation includes a multimedia musical project titled "I Am Yoko," created in collaboration with artist Glenn Kaino, aiming to humanize Ono's image and showcase her journey as an artist and individual. The exhibition opens on May 23 and runs through October 11, with tickets available for select programs at thebroad.org/events.
In conclusion, Yoko Ono's upcoming exhibition at the Broad museum in Los Angeles will feature a series of digital billboards, re-creations of iconic performance art pieces, and a celebration of her music catalog. The exhibition, titled "Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind," curated by Yuka Honda, aims to highlight Ono's enduring message of peace and humanitarianism, inviting audiences to engage with her art and reflect on the power of individual agency in effecting change.