Yoko: A Biography(newstatesman.com)
newstatesman.com
Yoko: A Biography
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/book-of-the-day/2025/03/the-yoko-ono-problem
54 comments
If you haven't seen it already, would recommend checking out Yoko Ono's "performance" during John Lennon and Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSGm0RUDxo
To contrast this, for anyone that might be interested, a well researched ~1:40h documentary on Yoko's impact on the Beatles and John's life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMOABV_zgrk
orange site, where nuance goes to die. The out-of-context clip isn't a referendum on her artistry; it's just bait for people who never engaged with her actual work.
>The out-of-context clip isn't a referendum on her artistry; it's just bait for people who never engaged with her actual work.
I am not engaged with her actual work, but here is a not-out-of-context clip[0] of her live art from MOMA. Perhaps you could give more insight into the artistry ?
[0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GMHl7bmlzw
I am not engaged with her actual work, but here is a not-out-of-context clip[0] of her live art from MOMA. Perhaps you could give more insight into the artistry ?
[0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GMHl7bmlzw
Whatever the actual work that was, the sound engineer did the world a favor by cutting the cord to her mic right there and then.
I mean, I'm not sure what other context could justify howling and screaming in the middle of a musical performance.
To be fair, there is music where howling and screaming would be appropriate or expected. But that concert was definitely not the right place. IMO her screaming isn't particularly captivating either.
Peter Jackson's recovery of the footage leading to "Get Back" on the roof of the Apple building shows a lot more normal interaction between the Beatles, Linda Eastman and Yoko.
If anything, Ringo is the disruptive one (albeit briefly) when the others ego trips get him down.
Yoko was mythologised into the evil influence by fans distraught at the breakup of the group. Was she wierd? Sure.
Was she wierder than anyone else in those times? Not really. The Chuck Berry gig is just a moment, it doesn't define her. The screaming shtick was a thing, sure.
If anything, Ringo is the disruptive one (albeit briefly) when the others ego trips get him down.
Yoko was mythologised into the evil influence by fans distraught at the breakup of the group. Was she wierd? Sure.
Was she wierder than anyone else in those times? Not really. The Chuck Berry gig is just a moment, it doesn't define her. The screaming shtick was a thing, sure.
Ringo? In Get Back? What did he do to be disruptive?
He walks out because of the constant bickering and says he's left the group. The others sweet talk him round. It lasted about two weeks. George is also a bit whiney about his stuff but it's contained.
Billy Preston sort of glued them back together. He was an amazingly nice person to them, really helped things along.
Billy Preston sort of glued them back together. He was an amazingly nice person to them, really helped things along.
I watched get back and I don't remember Ringo walking out. George did though.
John got tired of the Beatles, his drug use made things worse. Paul's perfectionism did its part as well. Yoko was a distraction.
She's a provocateur, art is the medium she uses.
She's a provocateur, art is the medium she uses.
Her loft series in 1960 was an amazing moment in time - La Monte Young, John Cage, Marcel Duchamp etc https://press.moma.org/wp-content/files_mf/yoko_sectiontext_...
White chess is another amazing piece
https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2015/07/14/notes-on-...
https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2015/07/14/notes-on-...
One color go is a training method used in go… I wonder if that was her inspiration.
airstrike(2)
I saw her sing once with Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) playing guitar, and it a transcendent experience for me, personally. I'd heard her singing before on a recording and I'd found it irritating, but seeing it live was something else. So primal and beautiful. However, even though it brought me to literal tears, half of the audience were walking away and shaking their heads, which, I don't know, seems like a win for avant-garde art to me.
By the way, she is the long o Yōko.
There is short o Yoko given name too; I suspect it's pretty rare.
There is short o Yoko given name too; I suspect it's pretty rare.
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I've always been kind of meh on Yoko breaking up the Beatles. I was in junior high when it all went down, so for me there wasn't much info to be had to think one way or another. These artists live their lives like they want, as do I, so it is what it is. (sorry)
However, I missed not having new music from them sorely! AM radio was the main medium and the Beatles were on a lot, which I loved. In a parallel universe, great bands, which I get to choose, will be prevented from fighting and hating each other until I've had enough time loving their music, which they will continue to drop, until an acceptable retirement age. There.
However, I missed not having new music from them sorely! AM radio was the main medium and the Beatles were on a lot, which I loved. In a parallel universe, great bands, which I get to choose, will be prevented from fighting and hating each other until I've had enough time loving their music, which they will continue to drop, until an acceptable retirement age. There.
> Although Ono has, for two decades, been comfortably rehabilitated as an artist in her own right
I don't think she is a very good artist. Everyone felt they have to like her, and galleries brought her work in because, well, she is John Lennon's widow.
Here is her performance art, she is screaming in a microphone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZ9weP5i68
And some drawings https://www.moma.org/collection/works/131503
It's fine, but just nothing outstanding. The article gives her the best description I've heard so far "ultimate professional widow".
I don't think she is a very good artist. Everyone felt they have to like her, and galleries brought her work in because, well, she is John Lennon's widow.
Here is her performance art, she is screaming in a microphone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdZ9weP5i68
And some drawings https://www.moma.org/collection/works/131503
It's fine, but just nothing outstanding. The article gives her the best description I've heard so far "ultimate professional widow".
She's right up there Cattelan's banana duct-taped to a wall. In other words, she's in that grey area where you're not sure whether her art is sincere or some kind of fraud.
But that's par for the course with much of modern art. It's a vast movement occupying this Poe's Law-style zone of artistic ambiguity.
But that's par for the course with much of modern art. It's a vast movement occupying this Poe's Law-style zone of artistic ambiguity.
+1. To me it just seems kind of bland. I used to like her more and made a point of going to MoMA to see her when I lived in NYC, but over time she's done the opposite of "grow on me".
I still think Grapefruit is great. Nonetheless a lot of her work, especially her recent work, seems kind of disconnected form its historical context, not very daring, deep or metaphorical. It doesn't really propose anything new or seem distinctively hers. It's almost performative, like someone doing conceptual, installation and performance art "as a brand" rather than as a means to achieve something that can't be achieved via other mediums.
I still think Grapefruit is great. Nonetheless a lot of her work, especially her recent work, seems kind of disconnected form its historical context, not very daring, deep or metaphorical. It doesn't really propose anything new or seem distinctively hers. It's almost performative, like someone doing conceptual, installation and performance art "as a brand" rather than as a means to achieve something that can't be achieved via other mediums.
I think humor is common in his work and a banana taped to wall makes sense. I like his horse sculptures and Pope struck by meteorite. To me that's a whole other level than Yoko's work.
La Nona Ora at least exhibits highly realistic technique. There's no advanced technique with the banana. To me, that one is just an example of an artist trolling people.
I don't think she broke up the Beatles, I think there was a clash of personalities there that wasn't tied to a specific relationship. She did, however, ruin what was to be a legendary collaboration between Lennon and Chuck Berry.
She and Lennon may have been right for each other. I think they both reached a point of arrogance and self-indulgence that made them complement each other well. The difference was that Lennon was absurdly talented and Yoko, not so much.
And that's the problem with contemporary art in her style: a dearth of talent and a need for attention create an urge to do something, anything, to stand out in some way. Great art by a talented artist can take you into the artist's imagination, expanding your perspective. Mediocre art often comes off as a form of trolling because the point is not to show you a rich new point of view but merely to challenge you, to piss you off. Hence the urinal exhibited as a sculpture; the banana taped to a wall; the scrawled instructions on how to create the piece exhibited instead of the piece itself, there being often no piece at all, just a bit of manic-pixie-dream-girl vagueness. ("Hide until everyone goes home. Hide until everyone forgets you. Hide until everyone dies.") And curators and collectors all standing around telling the emperor what a lovely outfit he has on.
She and Lennon may have been right for each other. I think they both reached a point of arrogance and self-indulgence that made them complement each other well. The difference was that Lennon was absurdly talented and Yoko, not so much.
And that's the problem with contemporary art in her style: a dearth of talent and a need for attention create an urge to do something, anything, to stand out in some way. Great art by a talented artist can take you into the artist's imagination, expanding your perspective. Mediocre art often comes off as a form of trolling because the point is not to show you a rich new point of view but merely to challenge you, to piss you off. Hence the urinal exhibited as a sculpture; the banana taped to a wall; the scrawled instructions on how to create the piece exhibited instead of the piece itself, there being often no piece at all, just a bit of manic-pixie-dream-girl vagueness. ("Hide until everyone goes home. Hide until everyone forgets you. Hide until everyone dies.") And curators and collectors all standing around telling the emperor what a lovely outfit he has on.
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> She did, however, ruin what was to be a legendary collaboration between Lennon and Chuck Berry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSGm0RUDxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSGm0RUDxo
The withering side-eye Chuck gives to Yoko when she does her thing still gets me.
I'm not claiming to be the majority here, but I first learned about Yoko Ono and her work from a Fluxus artists' catalogue and much later found out that she was married to someone famous.
It's unlikely that Yoko's work would have been in that artists' catalogue if she hadn't married John Lennon.
on the contrary, they met after John went to one of Yoko's art shows and was intrigued by her artwork; it's probably unlikely that Yoko would have married John if it were not for Yoko's work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_Painting/Yes_Painting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_Painting/Yes_Painting
I remember seeing her work alongside of other artists, and before reading the plaque with the name, think, "meh, kind of underwhelming" and then seeing "oh, it's Yoko, that's why it's here".
>Here is her performance art, she is screaming in a microphone
anybody who judges an artist on the basis of one work is an ass. here are a number of those in a work that cleaved the art world into two hemispheres with a chasm between them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CbDkRFjLAQ
been a long time since I read about it, but pretty sure iirc those are celebs making cheeky cameos in that piece
anybody who judges an artist on the basis of one work is an ass. here are a number of those in a work that cleaved the art world into two hemispheres with a chasm between them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CbDkRFjLAQ
been a long time since I read about it, but pretty sure iirc those are celebs making cheeky cameos in that piece
Heh, well played. I was going to use that as an example but thought to keep it somewhat SFW.
For anyone that's Yoko's "Film No 4 Bottoms 1966-67" which is exactly what it sounds like, if you'd rather not click on it.
For anyone that's Yoko's "Film No 4 Bottoms 1966-67" which is exactly what it sounds like, if you'd rather not click on it.
Here is a performance before Lennon; way better in my opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU4tCw2u_hg
edited with a better link.
edited with a better link.
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Well, you know, I see what you’re saying about Yoko - she’s not the kind of artist that makes your jaw drop or blows your mind with technique. But, to me, it’s not really about that. It’s about the journey, not the destination, right? Art’s all about the path you take, the experiences you collect, and the way you view the world. Yoko, for all the criticisms, has certainly led an interesting life, no doubt. She’s been a trailblazer, or maybe just a wild spirit, pushing boundaries and breaking norms. She’s had her share of ups and downs, but it’s the living that matters. And through it all, she’s remained true to herself. That’s something to admire, even if you don’t agree with everything she does. The destination, the fame, the recognition - that’s all fleeting. But the journey, man, that’s where the real magic happens.
> she’s not the kind of artist that makes your jaw drop or blows your mind with technique.
But to be displayed in MoMA she'd kind of have to be.
> Art’s all about the path you take, the experiences you collect, and the way you view the world.
I guess I see your point, the fact that she is the widow is also part of the artist and the artwork. That's fair. But, I'll also say that who she is is the 90% part and the 10% is the art. If one anonymized her work, it would never have made it to those galleries or exhibits.
But to be displayed in MoMA she'd kind of have to be.
> Art’s all about the path you take, the experiences you collect, and the way you view the world.
I guess I see your point, the fact that she is the widow is also part of the artist and the artwork. That's fair. But, I'll also say that who she is is the 90% part and the 10% is the art. If one anonymized her work, it would never have made it to those galleries or exhibits.
That's underselling her influence as an artist from her pre-Beatles period. She produced a handful of important avant-garde pieces and performances from the 60s in NYC and London and was a student and collaborator of John Cage, an extremely influential composer who has had dozens of exhibitions at MoMA. In fact she first met The Beatles to request a song manuscript for a Cage book.
She was also well connected to that world (she was invited to join the Fluxus community and artists like Marcel Duchamp attended her NYC loft parties) and quite ambitious, so there's a non-zero chance she would have become even more prominent had The Beatles association never taken place.
I have no interest in that world myself, but to say she was a nobody without The Beatles simply isn't true, she was definitely a rising star. A household name? Probably not, but possibly. An artist from that period that could be exhibited at the major international galleries, have her works studied in art schools? Absolutely.
She was also well connected to that world (she was invited to join the Fluxus community and artists like Marcel Duchamp attended her NYC loft parties) and quite ambitious, so there's a non-zero chance she would have become even more prominent had The Beatles association never taken place.
I have no interest in that world myself, but to say she was a nobody without The Beatles simply isn't true, she was definitely a rising star. A household name? Probably not, but possibly. An artist from that period that could be exhibited at the major international galleries, have her works studied in art schools? Absolutely.
Yeah. I can agree about her 60s work.
However I think she would have stayed relatively obscure had she not become "ultimate professional widow" as the article put it.
However I think she would have stayed relatively obscure had she not become "ultimate professional widow" as the article put it.
> But to be displayed in MoMA she'd kind of have to be.
While I agree with you about Ono’s art, I disagree on this. I know art is subjective, but in my times at MoMA I’ve found it bimodal: works on display there either blow ls my mind or I just don’t feel anything about.
While I agree with you about Ono’s art, I disagree on this. I know art is subjective, but in my times at MoMA I’ve found it bimodal: works on display there either blow ls my mind or I just don’t feel anything about.
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waynecochran(1)
Typical "femme fatale", she destroyed The Beatles, she turned Lennon into "working class hero", who had servants and used air condition to lower temperature in his home, so he and Yoko could wear furs inside.
The only worthy Lennon's post-Beatles album is Mind Games, the rest was a daub, with Imagine on the top of it.
The only worthy Lennon's post-Beatles album is Mind Games, the rest was a daub, with Imagine on the top of it.