John & Yoko 1981

All you need is love. This image says so much.

On the 8th of December 1980, photographer Annie Leibovitz met Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono at their flat in The Dakota building in New York to shoot a photo for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Five hours after the image was taken, Lennon was killed by Mark David Chapman. The publication of the photograph on the cover of Rolling Stone on January 22, 1981, caused a tragic, almost morbid sensation since it was one of the last images ever taken of Lennon. Apart from this historical coincidence, a reading of the photograph establishes why it has become such an integral part of our visual culture. The way Lennon’s body is wrapped around Yoko One is strongly reminiscent of the fetal position, or, in other words, the positioning of the body of a prenatal fetus as it develops. Lennon’s curled toes are deeply reminiscent of the newborn child. Importantly, however, the fetal position is also assumed in children and adults seeking to protect the body in a state of trauma. Lennon’s nakedness signifying his vulnerability, and the position of his body signifying a bodily position which evokes a traumatic experience, eerily foreshadow the actual trauma that Lennon was yet to incur only hours after the image was taken. This beautiful but sad photograph will always be remembered.
Info Credit: @popexpresso .

Another powerful image to make the most of. I initially had the lyrics to Imagine and All you need is Love written in the background. This was the first time I had written in the background, and although the lyrics say so much, I didn’t like how it looked. So I tried another approach with adding more layers of colour without totally covering up the previous handwritten lyrics and not taking too much from the couple. We could really use more of John Lennon’s music in the world these days.

This cover is reimagined in acrylic, pencil, and ink.

Size: 24” x 30” x 2”

Imagine. All you need is love.

Available. Let’s chat about how to get yours today.

$1200