Odyssey Of A Cockroach
Yoko Ono
Twentieth Century
was a century in which human experiment in cruelty reached its height. In other
centuries, we still had an excuse to kill each other either for self-defense
or for our survival. In the twentieth century, we as the human race were wise
enough to not have to be cruel. Still, the strong need to be cruel to each other
was passed on to us from the past centuries and acted on repeatedly.
In fact, we created the most savage century in the history of the human
race. Humanity has suffered its consequences.
We desired women to look as thin as the people we starved. We created
a breakdown of our own families, severing ourselves from other family members,
mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically. We started to abuse our children,
ignoring them and allowing them to be taken away from us. Children walked out
on us as well. Fleeting peacefulness was enjoyed with fear and doubt. Love was
temporal and met with guarded cynicism. In fact, we became the starved: both
mentally and emotionally.
Right now we are so steeped in the psycho drama we have created, we can
no longer see our reality, except through influences of various propaganda.
I have decided to be a cockroach for a day, and see what is happening
in this city through its eyes. Since we can easily say that New York City is
the cultural center of our society,I have taken various pictures of the city’s
corners and presented them from a cockroach’s point of view. Through the eyes
of this other strong race, we may learn the true reality of what our dreams
and nightmares have created. I invite you to join me on this odyssey — Odyssey
of a Cockroach.
©2003 YOKO
ONO
