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40 Years After Her Unofficial Show, Yoko Ono Returns To MoMA
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 12, 2014
Modified Dec 12, 2014
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 12, 2014
Modified Dec 12, 2014
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Yoko Ono made her unofficial debut at the Museum of Modern Art in 1971, when she hosted a one woman show that came with an accompanying catalogue entitled "The Museum of Modern FArt". Now, over forty years later, she's getting an official show—next May (through September), the museum will present its first exhibition dedicated exclusively to the work of Yoko Ono.
The 1971 ad. (Courtesy of MoMA)
In 1971, "when visitors arrived at the Museum there was little evidence of her work. According to a sign outside the entrance, Ono had released flies on the Museum grounds, and the public was invited to track them as they dispersed across the city." The flies were also sprayed with her perfume, to carry her scent.
This time around, her work will be easier to find.
"Yoko Ono: One Woman Show, 1960-1971 surveys the decisive decade that led up to Ono's unauthorized exhibition at MoMA, bringing together approximately 125 of her early objects, works on paper, installations, performances, audio recordings, and films, alongside rarely seen archival materials. A number of works invite interaction, including Painting to Be Stepped On (1960/1961) and Ono's groundbreaking performance, Bag Piece (1964). The exhibition draws upon the 2008 acquisition of the Gilbert and Lila Silverman Fluxus Collection Gift, which added approximately 100 of Ono's artworks and related ephemera to the Museum's holdings."
Hopefully organizer Klaus Biesenbach can get her to perform "Cut Piece":
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museum of modern art
yoko ono
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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