An Invisible Flower

Written and illustrated by celebrated conceptual artist and musician Ono in 1952, when she was just 19 years old, this whimsical gem of a story was recently discovered by the artist’s son, Sean, who compiled the book and provides the touching introduction. In this romantic, dreamy tale, an invisible but magically aromatic flower can only be seen by a character named Smelty John. The simple, childlike pastel drawings take on a deeper meaning when coupled with Ono’s nonlinear story and hints at her eventual artistic development. The story was inspired by an experience Ono had as a small child when she and her family were living in the Japanese countryside during their evacuation from Tokyo during WWII, a time of deep deprivation. In Ono’s afterward, she says that she now sees the fable as a premonition; she was the invisible flower to be seen by her own real-life Smelty John (John Lennon), whom she would meet a decade later. Ono had an illustrious career as an artist and musician before she met Lennon (a career which continues to this day); this wry, and poetic fairy tale shows her deeply mystic nature and creative spirit. (June)