Yoko Ono. Insound and Instructure

MUSAC is dedicating a major exhibition to Yoko Ono, one of the most influential figures in contemporary art—a pioneer of conceptual art, performance, and film, as well as a well-known musician and peace activist. Yoko Ono: Insound and Instructure brings together more than 80 works that span over six decades of her career, from iconic early pieces from the 1960s to more recent projects that show just how relevant her work still is today.

Born in Tokyo in 1933, Yoko Ono studied philosophy, poetry, and music composition in both Japan and the United States. She began making art in the 1950s, setting the stage for a practice that has never stopped evolving.

The exhibition takes its title from a concert and exhibition Ono held on July 20, 1964, at Yamaichi Hall in Kyoto. The words reflect two key elements of her work: sound and instruction. Many of Ono’s pieces start with simple written instructions that invite the viewer to imagine, take part, or even complete the work themselves. For Ono, it’s the idea that matters most—materials come second.