Four of the Eighty Artists Featured in John Lennon Is Not Dead at The Stash Gallery

John Lennon Is Not Dead is an exhibition taking place at The Stash Gallery inside Vout-O-Reenee's. The exhibition features contributions from 80 esteemed artists who have either made a new work or unearthed something special to celebrate the 80th anniversary of John Lennon's birth. Four of the artists said a few words about what they're contributing...

Above: INSTANT KARMA by Bula Chakravarty Agbo BEM

"We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun"

Bula: "Half a century has passed yet these lyrics are as painfully relevant today in 2020 as it was in 1970. Aged five when he was handed over by his parents to his uncle George and aunt Mimi to be looked after, his life became marked with challenges until the ultimate tragedy when he was fatally shot in 1980. No challenge was too great for John, he felt the pain and took to his creation. An untethered spirit, he epitomised the bohemian artist, writer, freedom fighter and lover. To this free spirit I celebrate a man who shines on as stardust from above. The blueprint of our creation is held within the flower of life, from the single atom to the planets and everything in-between, reminding us of our unity, and the Merkabah being our light body spirit, with which we transcend into the afterlife.John Lennon’s works continue to ignite a love of humankind that all brothers and sisters are called upon to stop and listen to. Karma is instant, now is all that you have. We are all one. Namaste!"

 

Above: Self Portrait as Working Class Hero - a Tribute to John Lennon by Liesel Thomas (Oil on panel 20.8cm x 29.6cm)

Liesel: "The song Imagine was number 1 in the charts when I was born, shortly after John Lennon's death. Like most Brits around my age, his music and that of the Beatles echoed throughout my childhood and teens, and he's one of the few artists I come back to time and again. His songs are still so relevant, and I was reminded of the lyrics to his political song Working Class Hero from the album Plastic Ono Band as the nation applauded our key workers and the NHS during lockdown, all the while they continued to be underpaid and underfunded by the Government. This painting depicts me as a John Lennon fan, wearing a replica of a T-shirt Lennon himself had been photographed wearing, on the wall in the background is the cover for the Plastic Ono Band album."

Above: Agnieszka Zapala: "John Lennon was in fact a crazy cat lady! Cats remained a big part of his life even after the huge success of the Beatles. This is how I connect with John. One needs a cat to truly understand life."

Above: Mark McGowan: "I once ate a small corgi dog, a co performer Meiko Takanami performed as John Lennon widow Yoko Ono, the press said it was Yoko Ono and she ate the small corgi dog.. lawyers were called and the press had to retract everything, she provided an alibi said she was in Moscow, it was in all the papers." 

John Lennon’s Not Dead will feature; drawings, paintings, photography, and collage. There will also be some specially made music and animation and some surprise performances. Because of social distancing there will be 4 Fab gatherings (some of which will be filmed and then shared on You Tube) rather than one big opening party. The Stash Gallery is inside Vout-O-Reenee's, The Crypt, 30 Prescot St, E1 8BB. Please note this celebration of John Winston Ono Lennon is unauthorized and 100 % unofficial.  Vout-O-Reenee's is a private members club and pre booking is essential. http://vout-o-reenees.com/events/john-lennon-is-not-dead-hes-80/ Buy your tickets: HERE

The show opens on Friday 2nd Oct and closes on Wednesday 28th Oct. Vout-O-Reene's is open Tues -Sat 5pm till 10pm.