Visitors eager to see Yoko Ono at the June 19 debut of her installation Add Color (Refugee Boat) during the 2019 Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s River to River Festival might have been disheartened by her absence. Nevertheless, the artwork itself captures the essence that brought the iconic artist to prominence in the 1960s. Add Color (Refugee Boat) mirrors Ono’s earlier work, presenting a message of peace and unity through accessible symbolism, albeit without a strong political edge.
The participatory nature of Add Color invites public interaction, encouraging people to decorate a white rowing boat and its surroundings with blue paint, representing the sea. While the project might not directly confront the harsh realities of the refugee crisis, its emphasis on collective participation speaks to the immigrant-driven foundation of the United States.
A text accompanying the installation describes it as a “collaboration between the viewer and the artist” and a platform for expressing “collective opinion, hopes, and dreams related to all forms of the international refugee crises.” Having been displayed in Germany, Greece, and England, the Refugee Boat has now reached New York City, not far from Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
On the second day, the installation’s walls were already adorned with messages of political resistance and solidarity in various languages, such as “NO WALLS”, “Black Lives Matter”, and expressions of support for activists worldwide. Some visitors simply added personal names or peace signs, in true Yoko style.
As the exhibition runs through June 29 at Seaport District’s 203 Front Street, it coincides with President Donald Trump’s announcement of mass deportations. This backdrop highlights the ongoing relevance of issues faced by immigrants and refugees, underscored by UNHCR data showing a record 70.8 million displaced individuals globally.
