The Light House
It was over 40 years ago when I conceived this idea of a Light House made of light, and listed it in my Conceptual “Sales List”.
Two hundred copies of the “Sales List” were sent out to people who followed my artworks.
In 1967, John Lennon invited me for lunch at his house, “Kenwood” in Surrey, England.
It was about six months after we first met in my Indica Gallery Show in London.
He told me that he read about the Light House in my publication and if I would build one for him in his garden.
“Oh, that was a conceptual light house! I’m convinced that one day, it could be built, but I don’t know how to do it.” I said with a laugh.
“Oh, I thought the Americans had come up with something” was what he said. And that was that.
I still marvel at the fact that John was touched by that particular concept in my catalogue, and 40 years ago at that!
In 1967, for my Lisson Gallery show in London, I re-wrote the concept more succinctly.
This was the way I should have expressed the idea to John in Kenwood, instead of laughing it off.
LIGHT HOUSE
The light house is a phantom house that is built by sheer light.
You set up prisms at a certain time of day, under a certain evening light which goes
through the prisms, the light house appears in the middle of the field like an image,
except that, with this image, you can actually go inside if you wanted to. The light
house may not emerge every day, just as the sun doesn’t shine every day.
Yoko Ono, 1965
Rewritten for Lisson Gallery, London, 1967
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
So awesome that this is happening! He was a great man!
it’s hard to believe he would be 70! I wish i had the chance to meet him in this life. He brought a great concept to us,,,PEACE. simply peace. Happy
birthday dear John. LOVE PEACE and TRUTH. Sam
te amo john lennon te amooo
tu muerte fue muy injusta y un golpe duro para todos john
pero seguis vivo en el corazon de cada uno de nosotros te amamos john
This is reality and no one can change it! I know that I´m pretty young, but this man and all his revolutionary ideas changed my life! I wish I could have been older. So many wonderful things happened and I wanted to be a witness of them. It´s hard to see the present when your mind lives in the past.
God bless john Lennon!
In my life… I’ve loved them all…
Peace and thanks Yoko, John…
Om Shanti Shanti
What is the environmental impact of the Peace Tower?
I’ve heard of the Fatal Light Awareness Program ( http://www.flap.org ) so I wonder how many birds this beam of light is killing ever night? Does anyone know? Has anyone counted?
John & Yoko, The Beatles you changed the way american teen aged girl thought about life and the world. You were my greatest teachers. Thank you. Happy Birthday John. Love and blessings to you, Yoko.
PEACE TO ALL!! Happy birthday John,great music great person…
I wish that one day I would be able to see this great light house that you builted to keep John’s work alive, you have done so much for his fans to remerber him by HE WILL NEVER FORGETTEN!!!!!!!!! One day I will see that PEACE TOWER.
Yes, we’re surely going to manifest and see that PEACE TOWER.
Beautiful sight, Yoko. Thank You and thanks to John on his birthday. Peace to all. Love IS all you need.
Well, within few days I’ll be fifty, ten years older than him… twenty years of distance mean that I was a boy when The Beatles ended, a teenager when I begun to listen to his work, and a young man when I heard of his death. Now, if I look into myself I still see something that John has left inside. Looking at that tower of light, I remember a starry night when I was in front of that wall in Prague and the notes of Imagine were spreading from a small speaker. Of course I say “happy birthday, and thanks”. Sergio.
Those prisms of light that beam across the universe will reflect our consciousness from within.
Happy Birthday, John — Yoko, you have established a magical and magnificent masterpiece with an awesome, paramount view.
Dear Yoko,
What a beautiful idea! The light house idea! You described it so perfectly with your poem! I could see it all happening in my mind’s eye!
It’s my sister’s birthday tomorrow! love!!! to you and John!!!!!!!!!!!
Hank Deane
Dear YokoOno,
I love you dearly, as you have held the candle of light and reached fulfillment with love on this day of Johns Birthday. He is truly loved and today you will marvel at all the love that will come back to let you know that his vision was beyond space and time. For we all at this time need PEACE EVEN MORE THAN EVER.
peace and love,
John & Susan
John was the best. Many people have tried to sing his songs but nobody is as good as the best of the best. There will never be another John Lennon. Peace and Love everyone.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful page that displays many wonderful things about Lennon.
greetings from mexico
waiting and someday get to know even more about his life.
Now the marvellous sky is dark blue and the tower is lit again, it has been exciting looking ath the webcam all the day, feeling the deep peace which comes from Iceland and thinking at thousands of friends joined in the name of John.
Now the marvellous sky is dark blue and the tower shines again, it has been exciting looking ath the webcam all the day, feeling the deep peace which comes from Iceland and thinking at thousands of friends joined in the name of John.
I feel blessed to have witnessed this event. A series of synchronistic events enabled me to be online at 3am (australia time) I did not know it was john’s b/day or about the peace tower till that time. Now more is unfolding, especially with 10.10.10 just passing
thankyou for providing a unique experience and opportunity to promote peace yet again Yoko
in honour of John Lennon #givepeaceachance
Siempre viviras en nuestros corazones JOHN, gracias por dejarnos tu música
Thank you Yoko -Yours and JOhn`s work is a constant inspiring force xx
John and Yoko, forever!! Peace to you….
Brilliant and Beautiful! A Masterpiece of Imagination.
Time wounds all heals….John Lennon
I was at the Dakotas on that day. People were slowly starting to gather in the park. I remember an older woman saying to me while crying.,” It’s over, it’s all over, everything we’ve worked for.” and I said “No it’s not. It’s just starting to expand with a greater radiation”. I’ve never given up. There’s nothing to give up/but there’s everything to appreciate. We all do shine on. For those who didn’t get the message then from John’s lips, maybe they will now. I’m so glad all of you are here. Thanks Yoko for doing this.
The man was and still is a legend…he is still here…he will always be remembered…a legend is never really gone…and you are legend also Ms. Yoko…may you be remembered for all the right and wonderful reasons…not just Johns widow…not just Seans Mom…not just the one, who caused the break, well you know…but a better than brilliant mind…you are also a light in the field…not to crazy about your music…but liking your heart and mind…
The world could sure use you now. You are missed so much and by so many. Thanks for all you gave us, music and deeds. Not many people have the talent, guts and vision you brought into this life. Where ever you are, you are here. Peace.
Bir daha John Lennon’ın da yaşadığı bir dünyaya, bir günün sabahına gözümüzü açamıycaz belki ama Sevginin, Barışın hüküm sürdüğü bir güne uyanıcaz…
light of the world for us he you and me light in the dark like a star so far behind in time still shines like a beacon on the darkest nights but to build a house with splintered sunlight beutiful thanks
my magical mystery imagine peace tower love light living wedding ring my husband john ono lennon gave to me to wear on my hand on my wedding day, illuminates the snowy nights in december, there i sorrowed.
Yoko, you’re a most wonderful inspiration to us all…Let’s keep going, shining our collective beam of cosmic radiation, and God bless you.
Lots of love and light everybody !!
God bless you John & Yoko
Yoko – feel a kindred spirit with you in that I write songs that are sometimes a little too bold. my newest: T*S*A blues…you get the drift. I love your courage. I love that you and John loved fiercely and nothing has changed that. Was sitting on a bench at Rudy Records when Graham found out. I was a 21 yr old studio assistant. wordless. No one spoke much for a few days. Elliot was a friend. What a quiet force and so much I learned there. I felt connected somehow to people telling the truth through music and it gave me courage.
Thankyou. Stay bold -stay true – shine on.
Incredible project from which draws spiritual energy throughout the world.
Love and truth must prevail over lies and hatred – Vaclav Havel
Heartfelt thanks to family Yoko Ono, John Lenonn and Finland many times
Thank you very much …