Peace Prize in Memory of Late Beatles Member - 2002-10-16

Yoko Ono, artist, musician, and widow of John Lennon, commemorated the 62nd birthday of her late husband by awarding the first Lennon-Ono Peace Prize. This prize was given to internationally renowned Israeli and Palestinian artists who were nominated by experts in their respective fields, awarded at a time when the political situation in the region is tense and political struggles have intensified. At the award ceremony at the United Nations, Ono drew on the lyrics of a song she had sung with the late John Lennon, which has long been a symbol of the couple's goal for a better world, the famous song that says: 'Imagine all the people living life in peace. Give peace a chance, give peace a chance.' Ms. Ono awarded $50,000 to Zvi Goldstein, an Israeli, and the same amount to Khalil Rabah, a Palestinian. Ono stated, 'Both artists have shown through their work that they are committed to the ideal of promoting understanding and mutual respect worldwide. This award is specifically given to emphasize issues that require healing wounds, and I think this is the right thing for us to do. I say 'we' because Lennon’s spirit is here. We have all benefited from Lennon’s words and his idealistic aspirations and everything he said.' Ms. Ono mentioned that during a trip to the region in 1999, she was influenced by the efforts of Palestinians and Israelis for peace. However, since then, violence between the parties has worsened in the span of two years. Mr. Rabah, an architect and artist who works with video and performing arts and lives in Ramallah on the West Bank, took three days to reach New York to receive his award, as he had to pass through areas often subject to travel restrictions and Israeli checkpoints. The Palestinian artist noted that this reality makes collaboration with the Israeli artist difficult. However, he stated that the activities of artists themselves promote peace as they enhance the aesthetic aspects of life: 'You can't create a formula and say that with this formula you can achieve peace. It’s not like that. Let’s say that art is self-referential, but if people cooperate, like what this award does by promoting art, it brings people to a higher level of understanding, awareness, and participation.' Zvi Goldstein, an Israeli sculptor living in Jerusalem, agrees with Rabah. He says that despite the conflicts, art connects him and Rabah: 'We live in a small community, and it doesn't matter much whether you are Palestinian or Israeli. Art is our common ground.' Both artists believe that Ms. Ono wants to encourage a return to normalcy in life in the Middle East, a region overshadowed by ongoing violence. Although these two artists do not know how they will collaborate in the future, they express eagerness to visit New York museums and discuss the artworks they will see there.