An original flyer for Yoko Ono’s exhibition ‘Unfinished Painting & Objects’ held at the Indica Gallery, Masons Yard, London on the 7th November 1966.
The gallery was co-owned by the then husband of Marianne Faithfull, John Dunbar, musician Peter Asher and writer Barry Miles. The occasion is significant in Beatles history because it is the date when John and Yoko first met. Dunbar invited his friend, John Lennon, to the gallery to see the exhibition the day before it opened. Yoko first approached John with a card that read ‘breathe’ to which John replied with a pant. Whilst browsing the exhibition a particular piece caught his eye, a ladder that led up to a canvas on the ceiling bearing a single tiny word which required the viewer to use a magnifying glass. During an interview in 1971 with Rolling Stone, John recalled his meeting with Yoko during the exhibition: ‘I felt relieved. It’s a great relief when you get up the ladder and you look through the spyglass and it doesn’t say ‘no’ or ‘fuck you’ or something, it said ‘yes.’ With John’s interest piqued, Yoko led John to her piece ‘Painting to Hammer a Nail In’, John was eager to participate however Yoko was reluctant as she didn’t want him to ruin the work before the exhibition was officially open. She asked him to pay five shillings per nail, but instead the two agreed that Lennon would pay imaginary money to hammer an imaginary nail. John told Playboy shortly before his death, ‘and that’s when we really met. That’s when we locked eyes and she got it and I got it.’
Provenance: the flyer comes directly from the person who attended Yoko Ono’s exhibition and collected the item at the event.
The flyer has various fold lines which when matched reveal the exhibition title, date and location.
Dimensions: It measures 22.3cm x 20cm (8.8 inches x 7.9 inches).
Condition: There are several other crease lines and some discoloration to the left and right edges. There is a 3cm split to the center fold and a 0.7cm tear to the right edge.
Authentication: Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.
