YOKO ONO MUSIC OF THE MIND

Entering the "YOKO ONO: MUSIC OF THE MIND" exhibition at Tate Modern, I was fascinated by the artist's diverse and radical career. Showcasing Yoko Ono's artistic trajectory from the 1950s to the present through sound, visual art and interactive installations, the exhibition gave me a deeper understanding of her identity as a conceptual artist and social activist.

I was particularly struck by the works "Cut Piece" and "Film No. 4 (Bottoms)". The performance video for "Cut Piece" made me think about the boundaries between art and audience, and how art can be a direct comment on social and cultural norms. The direct and intensely interactive nature of the performance prompted me to consider whether my own work could inspire similar audience participation and reflection.

"Wish Trees for London provided me with the opportunity to interact directly with the art. I hung my own wishes on the trees, which was not only a personal expression, but also an experience that resonated with the wishes of others. This engagement made me think about how to create space in my art practice for the audience to be part of the creative process.

Whilst the exhibition succeeded in showcasing Ono's artistic career and her influence, I found that it fell slightly short of delving into the personal and psychological motivations behind her art. For example, her work often deals with deep social criticism and personal emotional expression, but the exhibition seemed too superficial in its interpretation of these dimensions. I would have liked to learn more about how she deals with the conflict between her personal and public identities.

I have been exploring ways to translate personal experiences into art forms that viewers can interact with, and Ono's work has inspired me to think about how conceptual art can be used more effectively to discuss social issues. In particular, how she used simple instructions and everyday objects to create deeply impactful artistic behaviours has provided valuable insight into the design of my future projects.