Yoko Ono: I'm astounded by Liverpool's renaissance.
Byline: CHRIS BROWNYOKO ONO appeared on the streets of Liverpool yesterday in front of one of her controversial images for the Biennial arts festival.
Standing on the steps of St Luke's Church on Berry Street, fans flocked to see her as she talked to people and signed autographs.
Ono brushed aside suggestions that her piece for Liverpool Biennial, called My Mummy was Beautiful, featuring a close up of a breast and vagina was shocking.
She then went on to say much the city had changed.
She said: ``I have this lovely hotel room and, when I look out the window, I can see just how much it is changing.
``When I heard that the Liverpool Biennial wanted me to do something, I thought of My Mother was Beautiful and that made me think of John.
``I was very delighted when asked to be part of the Liverpool Biennial.
``Liverpool is getting bigger and bigger in the eyes of the world by now being selected as the Capital of Culture.
``With the Biennial it will become an important city on the map of the art world, too.
``The work My Mummy was Beautiful was initially about my mother.
``But when I decided to do it in Liverpool, suddenly I remembered how John loved his mother, and it choked me up.
``So this one in Liverpool will be my tribute to John. ''
The conceptual artist went on to unveil another artwork, Onochord.
Reading a poem and using a small flashlight, she showed the new idea which is currently being displayed in Venice.
The Onochord is a way of communicating I Love You by using a blinking flashlight. The artist's current exhibition in Italy is a video of her using a flashlight to say I Love You. Today is the first day that the Liverpool Biennial opens its doors to the public.
Yesterday was for private viewings for artists and journalists.
A launch party was held in The Magnet nightclub on Hardman Street last nightThe festival is split into four different stands.
The Independent has its own arts district located on Jamaica Street and features a wide variety of regional and local artist as well as artists invited from around the world.
John Moores 23 is the UK's most prestigious and longest-running open painting competition.
Organised by National Museums and Liverpool and the John Moores Exhibition Trust. The pounds 25, 000 winner, Alexis Harding's Slump/Fear, will be on show until November 28 in the Walker.
Bloomberg New Contemporaries is being held at The Independent district, while The International section has pieces spread across the city. Yoko's Onochord poem
Send the ONOCHORD message I Love You by repeatedly blinking the light in the frequencies and durations required for the message from ships from the tops of the moutains from buildings using whole buildings in town squares from the sky and to the sky Keep sending the message to the end of the year and beyond Keep sending the message everywhere on the earth and to the universe keep sendingFor individuals send the message by hand or using flashlights or with lighters The message I LOVE YOU in ONOCHORD is: Ii LOVE ii YOU iii I love you!
Yoko Ono 2004
CAPTION(S):
Yoko Ono shows off her latest controversial artwork at St Luke's Church in Liverpool; Picture: MARTIN RICKETT
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| Publication: | Daily Post (Liverpool, England) |
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| Date: | Sep 18, 2004 |
| Words: | 557 |
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