John Lennon once described her as "the world's most famous unknown artist: everybody knows her name, but nobody knows what she does." As well as being well known as John's wife — images of the pyjama-clad couple's 1969 Bed-In For Peace forever
John Lennon once described her as "the world's most famous unknown artist: everybody knows her name, but nobody knows what she does." As well as being known as John's wife — images of the pyjama-clad couple's 1969 Bed-In For Peace forever etched in our minds — Yoko Ono has finally established herself an influential artist in her own right. Japanese-born Ono has practiced in a number of creative disciplines over the past five decades: as a musician, collaborating with others and producing her own material; as an author, as an experimental filmmaker and as an artist, exhibiting and performing worldwide. A film of her Cut Piece performance from 1965 is currently on display at the Royal Academy's Aware: Art Fashion Identity show. She is also known for her philanthropic contributions to the arts, peace and AIDs outreach programmes. As the latest subject of AnOther's Proust Questionnaire, Yoko (who's name means 'ocean child') shares her thoughts on subjects ranging from romantic gestures, dreaming, tattooing and work/life balance.
What are you thinking of right now?
What to say to you.
What makes you laugh?
A good story.
What makes you cry?
A good story.
What do you consider to be the greatest invention?
Me. That is, if somebody or something invented me.
Do you have a mentor or inspirational figure that has guided or influenced you?
The world.
Where do you feel most at home?
Inside myself.
Where are you right now?
Inside myself.
What is your proudest achievement in work?
I will let you know when that happens.
What is your proudest achievement in life?
That I survived..and still surviving.
What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?
Try to entertain you too much.
What do you most like about the age we live in?
That we are wiser than the one before.
At what points do life and work intersect?
My work is my life. My life is my work.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
No advice.
What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Every day.
Recommend a book or poem that has changed your perspective on life?
I shall let you know when I encounter one.
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Being born.
What’s the most important relationship in your life?
Me.
What’s the most romantic action you’ve taken?
To get married and have kids.
What’s the most spiritual action you’ve taken?
To get married and have kids.
If you could wish for one change in the world what would it be?
That my kids will learn to say yes to me.
