A Call for Collective Dreams and Repair from Yoko Ono

In the summer of 2025, Berlin’s cultural scene is energized by Dream Together, a groundbreaking exhibition by one of the most original and transformative figures in contemporary art history: Yoko Ono. Hosted at the Neue Nationalgalerie, this exhibition doesn’t just place visitors in the position of spectators; it turns them into active participants in the artwork itself.

True to its name, Dream Together is an invitation: “Let’s dream together,” says Ono. Rooted in themes of peace, healing, and collective action, the exhibition seeks to break free from the confines of the gallery and extend into everyday life. It’s not just about seeing—it’s about doing and feeling. Here, the viewer’s actions become the artwork itself.

At the heart of the exhibition lies Mend Piece, a work where broken porcelain fragments are “repaired with wisdom and love.” Rather than hiding our fractures and flaws, this piece embraces them, symbolizing a process of healing through care and togetherness. As visitors piece the shards back together, they engage not only in a physical restoration but also in a social metaphor of “repairing together.”

Another striking element of Dream Together is Play It By Trust, a chess game played entirely with white pieces. This unconventional installation shifts the focus from competition to trust and cooperation. Visitors are encouraged to rethink what it means to move together and to truly understand one another, beyond the traditional rules of the game.

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

Yoko Ono

Inspired by Ono’s past performance works centered around the theme of cleaning, Cleaning Piece invites participants to channel personal emotions into local river stones. This ritualistic act serves as a symbolic gesture—one of letting go of the past and making room for new beginnings.

Dream Together creates a space where art and activism converge. In Ono’s vision, dreaming ceases to be a solitary act and becomes the first step toward collective transformation. Considering Berlin’s layered historical and political fabric, this exhibition goes beyond contemplation—it becomes a call to action.

If you want to be part of this unique experience and leave your own dream at the heart of Berlin, Dream Together is on view at the Neue Nationalgalerie until September 14.