Part live art, part opening event, Yoko Ono’s 'Bells For Peace' warmly invited us to participate in sending a message of world peace to Manchester and beyond. It was thousands of people huddled in Cathedral Gardens for around thirty minutes, most of the time was spent building up to the climatic ending: a large orchestra (us) made up of all kinds of bells ringing; a loud cacophony of sound spreading the harmonious message of peace. Welcoming the world to Manchester and uniting anyone and everyone from everywhere.
Yoko Ono has been one of the world’s most famous and valued artists for over fifty years. Commissioned by Manchester International Festival (MIF), this was Ono’s first major work for the city of Manchester. She says: “The beauty of this piece will break the sky and more. Peace is power. I love you all.” This performance certainly broke the sky in a positive way, drowning out the regular reverberations of traffic, talking and machinery nearby and altering the metaphysical energies within us all. All in the name of peace. The ringing of the bells was that loud I thought the glass on the National Football Museum building was going to shatter. I suppose we were all intending to break the glass ceiling with this piece, calling on those who have the power to influence world peace to act.
Before the performance, most people received their own bell, that’s if they didn’t bring their own. Engraved on it was: “Bells For Peace”, “Y.O”, and “MIF”. Inevitably, some people already started ringing their bells, which only goes to show the anticipation around the piece itself.
During the performance, three presenters explained what was going to happen and that we should refrain from ringing our bells until it was time to. The temptation proved too much for some, myself included. A live interview took place on a big screen with three members of the public who enlightened us with a brief history surrounding their own sentimental bells. They also summarised what peace meant to them.
The subject of peace was explored in the context of Manchester’s history in a short documentary. Peace meaning social justice (the Suffragette Movement) and peace meaning the end of hate (the IRA Bombing and Manchester Arena Attack). All of this was an effective warm up to the climatic end. The ringing of all the bells included the four big ones in the square affecting you physically and emotionally. Everyone clustered together in close proximity advocating one meaningful cause making you feel part of something bigger than yourself. You could feel the vibration of sound on your body. It was a monumental and memorable moment because this event not only related to Manchester but the world as well. We rang our bells in different ways as per the instructions, as expected Manchester didn’t hold back and gave it their all.
Afterwards, mine and other people’s ears kept ringing but this wore off after a while. This bodily response made the piece all the more effective in its impact. People kept their bells and in doing so the piece continues to sing in a myriad of ways and forms long after. I was expecting Ono to be there and not just on film, however it didn’t matter. After all, this performance was a co-creation between audience and artist. A great way to open MIF and ideal for the people of Manchester.
Reviewer - Sam Lowe
on - 4/7/19
No comments:
Post a Comment