The Imagine Peace Tower on Víðey Island near Reykjavik is an outdoor art piece by Yoko Ono dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. This monument of peace and joy emits a shining beam of light into the sky and features peace prayers in 24 languages.
The Imagine Peace Tower shines each year from October 9th (John’s birthday) until December 8th (the anniversary of his death). The Peace Tower also shines on February 8th for Yoko’s birthday, mid-March (John and Yoko’s wedding and the arrival of spring), on the Winter Solstice, and on New Year’s Eve.
What is the Imagine Peace Tower like?
The Imagine Peace Tower consists of fifteen search lights with prisms that act as mirrors reflecting the light vertically into the sky. On a clear night, the tower appears to reach an altitude of at least 4.000 metres and it is powered by eco-friendly geothermal energy. All in all, the tower uses about 75 kw of power.
In the centre of the tower is a 10 metre wide wishing well. Underneath the tower you can see the location where one million written wishes are buried. Yoko Ono gathered these wishes in a project called Wish Trees.
Yoko Ono unveiled The Imagine Peace Tower on 9. October in 2007 with an internationally broadcast ceremony. In attendance were also Sean Lennon, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison (George Harrison’s widow) and her son, Dhani Harrison.
Can you see the Imagine Peace Tower from Reykjavík?
Yes, you can. The blue light beam is visible from virtually any point in the city. If you’d like a closer look, you can take a short ferry ride from the Skarfabakki pier or the Old Harbour area. On select dates every fall, Víðeyjarstofa Restaurant on the island features a John Lennon tribute concert and dinner.
Why Iceland?
Yoko Ono chose Iceland as the location for this amazing tribute to John Lennon and beacon to world peace. According to her, “Iceland is a magical and beautiful country. The electrical energy source for the country and for the Imagine Peace Tower is geothermal – water, instead of oil. No pollution. No war. This is just one of the incredible situations that creates the magic of Iceland.”
