The film 'Freedom' is part of the exhibition of the art of Yoko Ono,"The sky is still blue, you know .... ", which opened in May this year. This exhibition is specially designed for the Tomie Ohtake Institute and consists of 65 pieces or "instructions" that ask the visitor to help make the art. In this way, the visitor is forced to think about the instructions, and the artwork suddenly becomes very unique and temporary.

The exhibition gives a nice overview of Yoko Ono's work, from her first works from the sixties to the most recent works of this year. We know Yoko Ono of course as John Lennon's wife, some of whom see her as the woman who broke up the Beatles. But can we really blame her? Time will tell, at least I'm not so convinced; In my opinion, John Lennon left the Beatles, and Yoko Ono was no more than an accomplice. Time for discussion!

In the mid-sixties, she began making films. A short movie of Yoko Ono is called Freedom (1970); This movie takes just over 1 minute. A woman (Yoko Ono, though her face is not shown) tries to undo her bra. At the end of the film, this has still not been successful and the movie repeats. Freedom is very relative ......

The special feature of this film is that John Lennon wrote the music. Actually, this song is unheard until now for many Lennon fans! The music is as minimal as the images.

Furthermore, there is little Lennon in the exhibition, which I appreciate from Ono; Yoko Ono can stand as on her own feet as artist. Only one other time do we see Lennon, in the movie Smile. It is intriguing to face Lennon, who looks like a kind of Mona Lisa, and in extreme slow motion (333fps) makes a start of a smile. But after 15 minutes he is not much further ...
Also, the music of this film is by Lennon, but now he says, "bring your own instrument" so we only hear the wind in the trees, and the birds singing ......... ..

Some of her art has become world famous. For example, the small-letter word written on the wall (1966) You can only read it by climbing a ladder and then using a magnifying glass. This was the work that drew attention to John Lennon when he visited Ono's exhibition in London, in 1966. A whole experience for this visitor to re-enact this historical event!

There are also instructions that only apply in the mental, poetic, or imaginary plane: "observe the sun until it becomes square"; "a piece of heaven knows we are all part of each other"; "Do not try to say anything negative about someone for three days, 45 days, for three months." (1996).

Another well-known work by Yoko Ono has been her theater performance in which she sits on stage (in Carnegie Hall (1964, New York), and invites the audience to cut her clothes with scissors. The film shows how exciting it was for Yoko Ono itself, alone and vulnerable, while a series of men cut her clothes off the body.

Think of Yoko Ono what you like, but there's never a dull moment with Yoko!