Yoko Ono in the Sydney Biennale & Barack Obama in the World
July 27th 2008 09:10
Category: No Category
This Wednesday I was finally able to persuade a friend of mine to accompany to the NSW Art Gallery, one of the venues where artworks assembled for the 2008 Sydney Biennale, and while most of the artworks didn't particularly excite me, there were one or two that made the trip worthwhile. My favourite was an installation of a simple-looking telephone into the art gallery space, sitting innocuously on a raised wooden structure. I spotted it from across the room and wondered if it was some kind of conceptual art. As I got closer I noticed that there was some text above the display. Imagine my surprise when I read that, at times suitable for her, Yoko Ono would ring the gallery and the people who happened to be in the room would have the opportunity to talk to her.
Yoko Ono is perhaps most famous for her relationship with ex-Beatle John Lennon, but she is also renowned for her art, which has appeared in galleries all over the world, including the prestigious Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, where a video of hers is part of the permanent exhibition. The last exhibition of hers I remember in Sydney was 'Ex It', which consisted of a room filled with simple wooden coffins filled with earth, and a tree growing out of the area where a head might rest. She was interested in exploring the idea that from death comes life, the cycles of life. I thought it was a hopeful message from someone who knew the pain of losing a loved one.
If Yoko had called I would have asked her how she was, where she was, does she think her art performance is postmodern, what has she learned from the people she has talked to so far, has her interaction with Sydneysiders changed her views of Australians, and what she was working on right now. What about you?
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I have heard of bit of criticism over Barack Obama's speech in Berlin here and there from people who think that there is more than enough going on in America for him to attend to, but I think his willingness to demonstrate his interest in improving US relations with the rest of the world, particularly Europe, is healthy for everyone involved - Americans get to view him operating outside the familiarity of his usual context, pro-actively taking his message to another continent and building up his foreign affairs cred (where Hillary was perceived to have an edge) in the meanwhile.
I am going to be doing all I can to promote Obama between now and the November election. I am looking for funky, inexpensive merchandise to buy since I can't get a free button from MoveOn.org (but if you have an American postal address you can, so don't hesitate to click here and show the rest of the world who you support - the more visible a cause is, the higher its chances for success!), and I will be doing all the e-campaigning work I can think of. Got a suggestion on how I can help? Email me at epiphaniebloom@gmail.com.
Why do I prefer Obama to McCain? He is more progressive in regards to gay rights, more concerned about climate change, seems more flexible in handling the Iraq situation, has been able to sense the anti-American sentiment emanating from all corners of the globe and is interested in recreating a positive international profile for his nation. He interested in maintaining some kind of diplomatic relations with Iran instead of severing all links to them, which really doesn't help, and he is interested in appealing to people of all backgrounds within the USA - on his website you can buy buttons with the following slogans: 'Obama pride' (with a rainbow on it), 'Veterans for Obama', 'African-Americans for Obama', 'Latinos for Obama', '[Something in Hebrew], 'Republicans for Obama', 'Asian Americans Pacific Islanders for Obama', and 'Women for Obama'... and that's just on the first page of the 'store' section of his excellent website, which has been praised for its design.
Perhaps I should I make my own button/badge that says 'Postmodernists for Obama'? ;o)
What would you ask a Yoko Ono willing to chat with you?
Yoko Ono is perhaps most famous for her relationship with ex-Beatle John Lennon, but she is also renowned for her art, which has appeared in galleries all over the world, including the prestigious Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, where a video of hers is part of the permanent exhibition. The last exhibition of hers I remember in Sydney was 'Ex It', which consisted of a room filled with simple wooden coffins filled with earth, and a tree growing out of the area where a head might rest. She was interested in exploring the idea that from death comes life, the cycles of life. I thought it was a hopeful message from someone who knew the pain of losing a loved one.
If Yoko had called I would have asked her how she was, where she was, does she think her art performance is postmodern, what has she learned from the people she has talked to so far, has her interaction with Sydneysiders changed her views of Australians, and what she was working on right now. What about you?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I have heard of bit of criticism over Barack Obama's speech in Berlin here and there from people who think that there is more than enough going on in America for him to attend to, but I think his willingness to demonstrate his interest in improving US relations with the rest of the world, particularly Europe, is healthy for everyone involved - Americans get to view him operating outside the familiarity of his usual context, pro-actively taking his message to another continent and building up his foreign affairs cred (where Hillary was perceived to have an edge) in the meanwhile.
Getting the crowd up in a tizzy in Berlin
I am going to be doing all I can to promote Obama between now and the November election. I am looking for funky, inexpensive merchandise to buy since I can't get a free button from MoveOn.org (but if you have an American postal address you can, so don't hesitate to click here and show the rest of the world who you support - the more visible a cause is, the higher its chances for success!), and I will be doing all the e-campaigning work I can think of. Got a suggestion on how I can help? Email me at epiphaniebloom@gmail.com.
Why do I prefer Obama to McCain? He is more progressive in regards to gay rights, more concerned about climate change, seems more flexible in handling the Iraq situation, has been able to sense the anti-American sentiment emanating from all corners of the globe and is interested in recreating a positive international profile for his nation. He interested in maintaining some kind of diplomatic relations with Iran instead of severing all links to them, which really doesn't help, and he is interested in appealing to people of all backgrounds within the USA - on his website you can buy buttons with the following slogans: 'Obama pride' (with a rainbow on it), 'Veterans for Obama', 'African-Americans for Obama', 'Latinos for Obama', '[Something in Hebrew], 'Republicans for Obama', 'Asian Americans Pacific Islanders for Obama', and 'Women for Obama'... and that's just on the first page of the 'store' section of his excellent website, which has been praised for its design.
Even the Irish want to adopt Obama
Perhaps I should I make my own button/badge that says 'Postmodernists for Obama'? ;o)
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I love Yoko Ono's phone installation. What a great idea. And what a thrill to anyone who happened to answer. I didn't know she was an artists either until about 5 years ago. Sad how her own stuff got overshadowed. I honestly have no idea what i would ask her. i really don't...what the heck do you say to Yoko Ono?
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Thanks, I get a smile every time I see that pic of him - and I think the background colours add a nice palate to the page that wasn't there before.
Send a link to all the neo-cons on Orble.
I was thinking of creating a post which an innocuous enough title so that some of them might come over, but I don't know if I'll get around to it... maybe I'll just embed a link on their pages, but then again it's not likely to get them to change their minds, is it? They'll just be like "ah, the liberal fanatics are in full swing." (Rolls eyes.)
what the heck do you say to Yoko Ono?
I'm sure she would be happy to tell you about her day or something until you got over the initial intimidation - she's probably used to people not knowing quite what to say to her by now.
I love the idea that she herself is the artwork (even if she can't be there in person). Who was that artist who would pretend to be asleep in a glass box in the gallery for the entire day? I would like to do something like that in the sense of installing myself into the room - I'd just randomly start chatting to everyone who entered the room, play up my 'eccentricity' and 'quirkiness' and kindly play with people's minds... I should really look into that, actually! It would require zero preparation.