Mar, 2024 — Ongoing
Since the 1964 publication of her groundbreaking artist's book Grapefruit — often cited as an early example of conceptual art — much of Yoko Ono’s work has been instruction-based. In SOUND PIECE V (1996), Ono transforms the traditional musical score into a simple written prompt which, by inviting viewers to record the sound of their friends laughing, reveals the ordinary to be extraordinary.
For her participation in Feral File's MoMA-curated exhibition, SOUND MACHINES (March 2024), Ono reconceived SOUND PIECE V as a digital, on-chain interactive work that invites public participation. Each time the piece is performed, participants can add their own recordings to successively build an ever-evolving public archive of sound. Ono encourages any and all to contribute their own recording to this archive of laughter, which will remain freely accessible in perpetuity.
Participation requires a small fee, which goes only towards covering transaction costs.